Meaning & Usage
To show respect in Japanese, you don't just praise the other person; you also humble yourself. The お〜する pattern is a primary tool for 謙譲語 (kenjougo), or humble language. You use it when describing your own actions—or those of your "inner circle"—that affect someone of higher status, like a boss, teacher, or client.
Think of this grammar as a way of "lowering" your own standing to effectively "raise" the person you are talking to. However, this form only works when your action is directed toward that person. For instance, you would use it when carrying a bag for your teacher. If you are just carrying your own bag home alone, you would simply use the standard form.
In business settings, you will rarely hear the dictionary form する. Instead, people almost always use the polite します. For maximum respect in professional emails or service industry roles, you can swap する for いたす, creating the お〜いたします form.
Structure & Formation
Creating this form is straightforward if you know your verb stems. This pattern generally applies to Group 1 (u-verbs) and Group 2 (ru-verbs). Group 3 irregular verbs usually take the ご prefix instead of お.
| Verb Group | Dictionary Form | Stem Form | Humble Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 書く (kaku) | 書き (kaki) | お書きします |
| Group 2 | 届ける (todokeru) | 届け (todoke) | お届けします |
Formation Rules:
The Prefix: Always start with お.
The Stem: Use the Masu-stem (the part before 〜ます).
The Ending: Finish with する or します.
Single-Syllable Rule: Avoid this pattern for verbs with one-syllable stems like 見る or 寝る. These use special humble words instead.
Sino-Japanese Verbs: For verbs like 連絡する, use the ご prefix (e.g., ご連絡します).
Example Sentences
Assisting and Helping
重そうな荷物ですね。私がお持ちしましょうか。
omosouna nimotsu desu ne. watashi ga omochi shimashou ka.
That luggage looks heavy. Shall I carry it for you?
分からないことがあれば、私がお手伝いします。
wakaranai koto ga areba, watashi ga otetsudai shimasu.
If there is anything you don't understand, I will help you.
雨が降っていますから、駅までお送りします。
ame ga futte imasu kara, eki made ookuri shimasu.
Since it is raining, I will drive (accompany) you to the station.
Professional Actions
後で詳しい内容をメールでお送りします。
ato de kuwashii naiyou wo meeru de ookuri shimasu.
I will send the details to you by email later.
新しい計画についてお話しします。
atarashii keikaku ni tsuite ohanashi shimasu.
I will speak with you regarding the new plan.
Interacting with Superiors
社長に空港でお会いしました。
shachou ni kuukou de oai shimashita.
I met the company president at the airport.
予定が決まったら、すぐにお知らせします。
yotei ga kimattara, sugu ni oshirase shimasu.
As soon as the schedule is finalized, I will inform you.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using it for the other person's action
❌ 先生、荷物をお持ちしますか。
✅ 先生、荷物をお持ちになりますか。
Kenjougo (humble Japanese) is for your own actions only. To show respect for what someone else is doing, use Sonkeigo (respectful language), typically the お〜になる pattern.
Mistake 2: Missing the Direction
❌ 家で本をお読みします。
✅ 家で本を**読みます**。
Humble forms imply you are doing something for someone. Reading a book alone at home doesn't benefit a superior, so using humble language here sounds odd.
Mistake 3: Overlooking Special Humble Verbs
❌ 先生の部屋へお行きします。
✅ 先生の部屋へ**伺います**。
Some common verbs have unique humble versions that don't follow the お〜する rule. For example, use 伺う (ukagau) for going/visiting and いただく (itadaku) for eating/receiving.
Cultural Notes
Using humble forms is less about rigid rules and more about smoothing social interactions. By showing humility (謙虚 - kenkyo), you demonstrate professionalism and reliability. In Japanese society, these linguistic cues signal that you understand your position within a group.
This also ties into the concept of 内 (uchi - inside) and 外 (soto - outside). If you are talking to a client about your own boss, you would use humble language for your boss's actions. Even though your boss is higher status than you, they are part of your "inner circle" compared to the "outside" client.
Related Grammar Points
- Respectful Japanese: The お〜になる Form (Grammar N4)
- Hearsay (I heard that): Souda (Grammar N4)
- Sequence and Starting Points: Using てから (te kara) (Grammar N4)
- Resultant State (Intentional) - Te-aru (Grammar N4)
- Mastering the Japanese Passive Voice (Ukemi-kei) (Grammar N4)
- Mastering Japanese Obligations: なければならない (Grammar N4)
JLPT Tips
On the JLPT N4, Keigo questions often test whether you can identify who is performing the action. When you see お〜する, the subject is always the speaker. If the sentence subject is a teacher or a boss, this form is incorrect.
Watch for the particle に (ni). If a sentence says "Teacher に (to/for the teacher)...", it is a strong clue that a humble form is required to describe the speaker's action toward them.
Practice: Try transforming daily verbs. 貸す (to lend) becomes お貸しします. Repeating these stems frequently will help you spot them quickly during the listening and grammar sections.