Honorific Verb Form: お/ご〜になる

Meaning & Usage

The grammar pattern お/ご〜になる is a fundamental honorific (尊敬語 - 尊敬語そんけいご) verb form in Japanese. You use it to respectfully describe the actions or states of someone in a superior position, such as your boss, a teacher, an elder, or a customer. Essentially, this form elevates the action of the person being spoken about, conveying respect and deference.

Imagine お/ご〜になる as a polite way to say someone 'kindly does' or 'honorably does' something, even though you wouldn't directly translate those adverbs. Crucially, this form never refers to your own actions. Instead, it always describes the actions of someone else who holds a higher position or deserves your respect. By using it, you acknowledge their status and show politeness.

This grammar point differs from humble language (謙譲語けんじょうご - kenjōgo), which you use to humble your own actions to show respect to the recipient. In contrast, お/ご〜になる focuses solely on dignifying the subject's actions. It's a common and versatile way to create honorific sentences when specific honorific verbs (like なさるなさる for する or いらっしゃるいらっしゃる for いる/行く/来る) aren't available or don't feel like the most natural choice.

The nuance of お/ご〜になる is formal and polite. It's extensively used in business settings, customer service, and any situation where you need to show respect to someone of higher social standing. For instance, you might use it when talking about a client's decision or your manager's instructions. While generally appropriate for formal spoken Japanese, it's also very common in formal written communication, such as business emails or official documents. Mastering this pattern is crucial for navigating respectful interactions in Japanese society and for advancing your understanding of 敬語けいご (honorific language).

A helpful mental model for this grammar is to imagine you are placing a "respect cushion" under the verb describing the superior's action. Instead of merely stating what they do, you're framing it in a way that acknowledges their elevated status. For example, instead of just saying 「社長しゃちょうが話はなす」 (The president talks), you would say 「社長しゃちょうがお話しになる」 (The president honorably talks), conveying a much greater sense of respect.

Structure & Formation

The formation of お/ご〜になる depends on the type of verb you are using. Generally, this means distinguishing between native Japanese verbs (和語わご - Wago) and Chinese-origin verbs (漢語かんご - Kango) that often combine with する.

Pattern 1: お + Verb Stem + になる

This pattern is primarily used for native Japanese verbs. These are verbs that are not formed by adding する to a noun of Chinese origin. To create the honorific form, you take the ます-stem (pre-ます form) of the verb, add お in front, and then add になる. Remember that なるなる itself will be conjugated according to the required tense and politeness level (e.g., になります, になった, になりません).

Note: While お行きになるおいきになる is grammatically correct, いらっしゃるいらっしゃる is often preferred as the special honorific for 行くいく, 来るくる, and いるいる.

Pattern 2: ご + Noun (Chinese-origin) + になる

This pattern applies to verbs formed by adding する to a Chinese-origin noun (e.g., 連絡れんらくする, 説明せつめいする). To use it, you remove する, add ご in front of the noun, and then add になる. The noun itself functions as the stem.

As with Pattern 1, for some common verbs like する, special honorific forms (なさるなさる) are often preferred over the generic ご〜になる structure. For example, while ご勉強になるごべんきょうになる is understandable, ご勉強なさるごべんきょうなさる or simply 勉強なさるべんきょうなさる is generally more natural for "to honorably study."

Example Sentences

General Usage

Referring to Superiors

Common Phrases & Requests

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using for oneself

お/ご〜になる is an honorific form, meaning it is used exclusively to describe the actions of others, especially those in a higher position than you. You should never use it for your own actions.

❌ 私わたしは明日あした、会社かいしゃにお越しになります。

✅ 私わたしは明日あした、会社かいしゃに行いきます。

Explanation: The first sentence is incorrect because it uses the honorific form of 来る/行く (お越しになるおこしになる) for the speaker's own action. You should use a plain or humble form for your own actions.

Mistake 2: Incorrect usage of お vs. ご

The distinction between お and ご is crucial and often confused by learners. Generally, お is used with native Japanese verbs (和語わご), and ご is used with Chinese-origin nouns that can act as verbs (漢語かんご).

❌ 先生せんせいは本ほんをご読みになります。

✅ 先生せんせいは本ほんをお読みになります。

Explanation: 読むよむ is a native Japanese verb, so it takes お, not ご.

❌ 部長ぶちょうはお連絡になります。

✅ 部長ぶちょうはご連絡になります。

Explanation: 連絡れんらく is a Chinese-origin noun used with する, so it takes ご, not お.

Mistake 3: Using with close friends or family

While showing respect is generally good, using highly formal honorifics like お/ご〜になる with close friends, family members (unless referring to an elder in a highly formal context), or subordinates can sound unnatural, overly stiff, or even sarcastic.

❌ 友達ともだちはもうお帰りになります。

✅ 友達ともだちはもう帰かえります。

Explanation: For friends, plain forms or polite 〜ます forms are sufficient and more natural. Using an honorific form here would be awkward.

Mistake 4: Overlooking special honorific verbs

Many common verbs have unique, irregular honorific forms that are generally preferred over the generic お/ご〜になる pattern. While the generic pattern might be grammatically understandable for some, using the special honorific forms sounds more natural and correct, and is often what is expected in formal situations.

❌ 社長しゃちょうは会議かいぎにご出席になります。

✅ 社長しゃちょうは会議かいぎにご出席なさいます。

Explanation: While ご出席になる is understandable, なさるなさる is the special honorific for する-verbs, making ご出席なさる sound more natural and highly respectful. Similarly, for verbs like 見るみる, ご覧になるごらんになる is the specific honorific.

Cultural Notes

In Japanese society, the use of 敬語けいご (honorific language), including お/ご〜になる, is not merely a matter of grammar; it's a fundamental aspect of social etiquette. It reflects one's understanding of social hierarchy and relationships. Using honorifics correctly demonstrates respect, humility, and awareness of the listener's or subject's status. It signals that you are polite and well-mannered.

You will frequently hear お/ご〜になる in professional environments, such as when addressing a client, a senior colleague, or your boss. For example, a receptionist might politely say 「部長ぶちょうはただいま、お席せきをお外しになっています」 (The department manager is currently away from his desk) to a visitor. In service industries like restaurants or shops, staff members routinely use this form when speaking to customers: 「お客様、こちらでお待ちになりますか？」 (Customer, would you wait here?).

Conversely, failing to use appropriate honorifics in situations where they are expected can be perceived as rude, disrespectful, or lacking in social grace. It might even imply that you do not acknowledge the other person's superior position. While foreigners are often given some leeway, making an effort to use 敬語けいご correctly is always appreciated and helps build stronger relationships.

It's important to understand that the degree of formality conveyed by お/ご〜になる is quite high. You would not typically use it when speaking to family members (unless you want to be extremely formal to an elder, which is rare in everyday conversation), close friends, or people junior to you. In those contexts, more casual or standard polite forms (〜ます) are appropriate. Knowing when and where to deploy this grammar point is as important as knowing how to form it.

JLPT Tips

For the JLPT N3, understanding お/ご〜になる is crucial for both reading comprehension and grammar sections. Here are some practical tips to help you master it:

1. Identify the Subject: Always pay close attention to who the subject of the sentence is. If the subject is someone you're expected to show respect to (e.g., 先生せんせい, 社長しゃちょう, お客様), then an honorific form like お/ご〜になる is likely appropriate.

2. Distinguish お and ご: Practice recognizing whether a verb is native Japanese (和語わご) or Chinese-origin (漢語かんご). Verbs that often end in 〜する (like 連絡れんらくする, 説明せつめいする) usually take ご, while others take お. This distinction is frequently tested in the JLPT.

3. Know the Special Honorifics: Be aware that some common verbs have specific, irregular honorific forms that are generally preferred over the generic お/ご〜になる. It's vital to memorize verbs like する → なさる, 見るみる → ご覧になるごらんになる, 食べるたべる/飲むのむ → 召し上がるめしあがる, 言ういう → おっしゃるおっしゃる, いるいる/行くいく/来るくる → いらっしゃるいらっしゃる. While お/ご〜になる might be grammatically correct for some, these special forms are far more natural and often what the test expects.

4. Context is Key: JLPT questions frequently provide scenarios. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the speakers and the person being talked about is crucial. This understanding will guide you to choose the correct level of politeness and the appropriate honorific form. For example, a customer service interaction will require more honorifics than a casual chat between friends.

5. Practice Conversion: Take a list of common verbs and actively practice converting them into their お/ご〜になる forms. Then, challenge yourself to use them in sentences, always imagining a scenario where you are showing respect to a superior. This active practice will solidify your understanding and recall for exam day."