謙譲語

About

謙譲語けんじょうご or "humble language" makes the speaker appear humble, and "lowers" their position relative to the listener. 謙譲語けんじょうご is used when speaking to people in high positions of power/authority, in business settings when speaking to clients/customers, and by service staff when speaking to customers. Some people may use 謙譲語けんじょうご when meeting someone for the first time.

謙譲語けんじょうご is comprised of special humble verbs, and お(verb stem)する pattern verbs.

E.g. いたす instead of する

E.g. お聞ききする instead of 聞きく

Summary

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  謙譲語けんじょうご is humble language that "lowers" the speaker in relation to the listener

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  謙譲語けんじょうご should be used when speaking to people of high social status

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  謙譲語けんじょうご is comprised of special humble verbs, and お(verb stem)する pattern verbs