召し上がる

You're learning Japanese, and you've probably already learned how to say 'to eat' or 'to drink' with words like 食べる (taberu) and 飲む (nomu). But Japanese has different levels of politeness, and that's where honorifics come in. Today, we're going to break down 召し上がる (meshiagaru), an honorific verb for 'to eat' or 'to drink'.

§ What does 召し上がる mean?

Japanese Word

召し上がる (meshiagaru)

Word Type

Verb

CEFR Level

B1

Definition

To eat; to drink (honorific).

§ Why use 召し上がる?

In Japanese, honorifics (敬語, keigo) are crucial for showing respect to people of higher status, like your boss, clients, or elders. 召し上がる is a prime example of sonkeigo (尊敬語), which is honorific language used to elevate the person you are talking about or to. When someone of higher status is eating or drinking, you use 召し上がる instead of 食べる or 飲む to show respect.

§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news

You'll encounter 召し上がる in many formal or polite situations. Here are some common scenarios:

• Business Meetings: When discussing a client's meal or drink, or if your superior is having something.
• Restaurants/Hospitality: Staff will often use this when addressing customers.
• Formal Announcements/News: When reporting on important figures, the news might use 召し上がる.
• Speaking about Elders: When referring to an older family member or respected elder, using 召し上がる shows proper deference.

Let's look at some practical examples to help you understand its usage.

Hint

Has the company president already eaten?

In this example, you are asking about your company president's meal. Using 召し上がる shows respect due to their position.

Hint

Customer, please drink some tea.

A server in a restaurant or a host in a formal setting would use this to offer a drink to a customer, showing politeness and respect.

Hint

How are you feeling? Can you eat anything?

This phrasing can be used in a medical or caregiving context to politely inquire if someone of higher social standing (like an elderly patient) is able to eat.

Hint

Thank you for eating the delicious meal the other day.

Here, the speaker is thanking someone for eating a meal they provided, showing respect to the person who ate. Notice the 'いただき' which is the humble form of 'to receive', further emphasizing the polite exchange.

§ Key takeaway

Mastering 召し上がる is a significant step in developing your Japanese politeness skills. It shows that you understand and can correctly apply honorific language, which is highly valued in Japanese society. Practice using it in appropriate contexts, and you'll sound much more natural and respectful to native speakers.

Understanding honorifics in Japanese can be tricky, and 召し上がる (meshiagaru) is a perfect example of a word where learners often stumble. This honorific verb for 'to eat' or 'to drink' is crucial for showing respect, but misusing it can lead to awkward or even rude interactions. Let's break down the common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

§ Using 召し上がる for Yourself

This is perhaps the most common mistake. 召し上がる is a *sonkeigo* (尊敬語), which means it's used to elevate the action of someone else, showing respect to them. You should never use it when talking about your own actions of eating or drinking. Doing so comes across as highly arrogant.

Wrong

私は昨日お寿司を召し上がりました。(Watashi wa kinou osushi o meshiagarimashita.)

Translation hint: I honorably ate sushi yesterday.

Right

私は昨日お寿司をいただきました。(Watashi wa kinou osushi o itadakimashita.)

Translation hint: I humbly ate sushi yesterday.

§ Using 召し上がる for People You Don't Need to Show High Respect To

While it's important to be polite, overusing 召し上がる can sound stiff or overly formal in situations where it's not strictly necessary. For instance, using it for friends, family members (unless you're being extremely formal), or people younger than you might feel unnatural.

Awkward

友達は何を召し上がりますか？ (Tomodachi wa nani o meshiagarimasu ka?)

Translation hint: What will your friend honorably eat?

Better

友達は何を食べますか？ (Tomodachi wa nani o tabemasu ka?)

Translation hint: What will your friend eat?

§ Confusing Honorifics and Humble Forms

Japanese has different levels of politeness, and mixing them up can be confusing. Remember:

• 召し上がる (meshiagaru) is an honorific (sonkeigo): use it when *the listener* or a respected person *you are talking about* is eating/drinking.
• いただく (itadaku) is a humble (kenjougo): use it when *you* are eating/drinking, or when *your group* is eating/drinking (in relation to an out-group member).

Translation hint: The section chief has already honorably eaten lunch.

Translation hint: I haven't humbly eaten lunch yet.

§ Using 召し上がる with the Wrong Particles

While not a mistake specific to 召し上がる, remembering to use the correct particles is always vital. For 'to eat/drink,' the object of the verb typically takes the direct object particle を (o).

Translation hint: Will the customer honorably drink coffee?

By being mindful of these common mistakes, you'll be well on your way to using 召し上がる correctly and showing appropriate respect in your Japanese conversations. Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to make mistakes – that's how we learn!

§ Understanding Honorifics in Japanese

When you're learning Japanese, you quickly realize that politeness levels are a big deal. 召し上がる (meshiagaru) is a perfect example of this. It's an honorific verb, which means you use it to show respect to the person you're talking about, specifically when they are eating or drinking.

Think of it this way: instead of saying "He ate," you're saying something closer to "He graciously partook." It's not a direct translation, but it captures the feeling of elevated respect.

§ Basic Meaning and Usage

召し上がる is used when referring to a superior or someone you want to show high respect to. You would use it for your boss, a teacher, a client, or even an elderly person you don't know well. You would *not* use it to refer to yourself, your family members, or your close friends.