Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
To do (Honorific form)
🎯 Primary Function
To elevate the subject of the sentence (Sonkeigo – Respectful Japanese).
📋 Grammar Structure
お + Verb Stem + になる
Not applicable. This pattern is used only with verbs.
Not applicable. This pattern is used only with verbs.
お + Verb Stem + にならない / になりませんでした
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Standard in business meetings, talking to bosses, or interacting with customers.
Informal Situations
Rarely used among friends or family unless joking or being sarcastic.
Written Language
Used in formal letters, emails to superiors, and announcements.
Spoken Language
Commonly used in formal spoken Japanese.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Respect
Used to show high respect to the person performing the action, typically a superior or someone you do not know well.
Example: 社長がお帰りになります。 (The president is going home.)
Polite Inquiries
Used when asking questions about a superior’s choices or actions.
Example: 何をお飲みになりますか？ (What would you like to drink?)
Formal Invitations/Offers
Used to offer something or invite a superior to take an action politely.
Example: こちらにお座りになりますか？ (Would you like to sit here?)
Frequency
High in professional and formal settings.
Difficulty
N4 / N3 (Keigo Basics)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
先生、何をお読みになりますか？
Furigana: せんせい、なにを およみになりますか？
Romaji: Sensei, nani o oyomi ni narimasu ka?
English: Teacher, what are you reading?
Example #2
社長はもうお帰りになりました。
Furigana: しゃちょうは もう おかえりになりました。
Romaji: Shachou wa mou okaeri ni narimashita.
English: The president has already returned home.
Example #3
明日の会議にお出かけになりますか？
Furigana: あしたの かいぎに おでかけになりますか？
Romaji: Ashita no kaigi ni odekake ni narimasu ka?
English: Will you be going out for tomorrow’s meeting?
Example #4
こちらでお待ちになりますか？
Furigana: こちらで おまちになりますか？
Romaji: Kochira de omachi ni narimasu ka?
English: Would you like to wait here?
Example #5
もうお休みになりますか？
Furigana: もう おやすみになりますか？
Romaji: Mou oyasumi ni narimasu ka?
English: Are you going to sleep already?
Example #6
この料理をお作りになったのは誰ですか？
Furigana: このりょうりを おつくりになったのは だれですか？
Romaji: Kono ryouri o otsukuri ni natta no wa dare desu ka?
English: Who was the one who made this dish?
Example #7
部長はいつお戻りになりますか？
Furigana: ぶちょうは いつ おもどりになりますか？
Romaji: Buchou wa itsu omodori ni narimasu ka?
English: When will the department manager return?
Example #8
新聞をお読みになりますか？
Furigana: しんぶんを およみになりますか？
Romaji: Shinbun o oyomi ni narimasu ka?
English: Would you like to read the newspaper?
Example #9
社長、こちらにお座りになりますか？
Furigana: しゃちょう、こちらに おすわりになりますか？
Romaji: Shachou, kochira ni osuwari ni narimasu ka?
English: President, would you like to sit here?
Example #10
明日の予定はお決まりになりましたか？
Furigana: あしたの よていは おきまりになりましたか？
Romaji: Ashita no yotei wa okimari ni narimashita ka?
English: Have you decided on tomorrow’s schedule?
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Subject-centric respect
It is more formal and respectful than the standard dictionary form or the Masu-form.
Example: 社長がお話しになります。 (The president will speak.)
O vs Go usage
Nouns that take ‘suru’ (Sino-Japanese words) usually use ‘Go’ instead of ‘O’.
Example: ご利用になります (Go-riyou ni naru)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 私はもうお帰りになります。 (Wrong: Using it for yourself)
✅ 部長、何をお食べになりますか？ (or 召し上がりますか)
You cannot use this pattern to describe your own actions. It is only for superiors.
❌ お見になります (Wrong) / お寝になります (Wrong)
✅ ご覧になります (See), お休みになります (Sleep)
Verbs with a single-syllable stem (like 見る ‘mi-ru’, 寝る ‘ne-ru’) usually have special honorific forms and do not use the ‘o… ni naru’ pattern.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Very high (Sonkeigo). Essential for business etiquette in Japan.
Social Situations: Used when the actor is of higher status than the speaker (Sensei, Shachou, Customer).
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan, though Kyoto/Osaka may have additional local honorific variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
～（ら）れる (Honorific) vs. お～になる
お～になる is more polite and formal than the potential/passive-style honorific (～れる).
When to use: Use お～になる for higher-ranking individuals or formal ceremonies. Use ～れる for daily polite conversation with semi-superiors.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The pattern consists of the prefix ‘O’, the Masu-stem of a verb, followed by ‘ni naru’. For ‘Suru’ verbs, ‘Go’ is used instead (e.g., ご利用になる).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure a clear gap between the ‘O’ and the verb stem to maintain the polite rhythm.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of this as ‘becoming’ (naru) the action respectfully. It’s like putting the action on a pedestal.
Other Grammar
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