B2 · 중상급 챕터 1

Navigating Social Hierarchy and Roles

5 총 규칙
50 예문
6 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of Japanese social hierarchy to communicate with confidence in any professional setting.

  • Elevate your speech using honorific verb constructions.
  • Demonstrate professional humility through specialized humble verbs.
  • Define social roles and express nuanced modesty with precision.
Speak with respect, navigate with confidence.

배울 내용

Ready to truly level up your Japanese? This chapter is your deep dive into the fascinating world of 'keigo' – the honorific and humble language essential for navigating Japanese society, especially in professional or formal settings. You’re about to fine-tune your expression and sound authentically native! We’ll kick things off by mastering the 'O-ni naru' pattern, an 'upgrade kit' for verbs that makes any action respectful when talking about superiors or customers. Imagine explaining your boss's actions with perfect deference. Then, we’ll tackle special keigo verbs like 召し上がる (meshiagaru) for 'to eat' and いらっしゃる (irassharu) for 'to come/be' – your secret weapons for next-level respect. It's not just about elevating others; you’ll also learn the 'O-suru / Go-suru' pattern to gracefully describe your *own* actions for others. Picture offering assistance in a Japanese business meeting with impeccable humility, sounding like a seasoned professional. Next, we’ll explore the versatile particle ～として (toshite), which lets you clearly state someone's role or capacity – whether speaking 'as a project manager' or describing someone 'in the capacity of a company representative.' This clarity is crucial. Finally, get a feel for the subtle power of ～なんか and ～なんて (nanka / nante). These particles are fantastic for expressing modesty, light dismissal, or even surprise in casual conversations, adding a truly natural flair. By the end of this chapter, you’ll wield keigo with confidence. You’ll navigate formal interactions, express nuanced humility, and define social roles with precision, sounding like an upper-intermediate speaker who understands the unspoken rules of communication. Let’s get started!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use honorific and humble verb patterns to describe actions in a business meeting.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Clearly state your professional role and express modesty using target particles.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome to your essential guide for mastering Japanese grammar at the B2 CEFR level! This chapter is your gateway to truly understanding and applying keigo, the honorific and humble language that is indispensable for navigating Japanese society, especially in professional, formal, or customer service settings. Moving beyond basic politeness, we'll equip you with the tools to express respect, humility, and clear social roles, allowing you to sound authentically native and communicate with precision.
Mastering keigo isn't just about sounding polite; it's about demonstrating cultural awareness and building stronger relationships.
By delving into this crucial aspect of Japanese communication, you'll learn to elevate your speech when referring to superiors or customers, and gracefully humble your own actions. This isn't just rote memorization; it's about understanding the underlying principles that govern social interactions in Japan. Prepare to fine-tune your expressions, avoid common pitfalls, and confidently engage in conversations where social hierarchy and roles are key.
This comprehensive guide will cover essential patterns like O-ni naru, special keigo verbs such as 召し上がる and いらっしゃる, the humble O-suru / Go-suru forms, the versatile particle ～として, and the nuanced ～なんか / ～なんて. By the end, you'll be well on your way to sounding like an upper-intermediate speaker who understands the unspoken rules of communication.

How This Grammar Works

Let’s break down the core mechanics of these advanced Japanese grammar points. First, for showing respect towards others' actions, we have the O-ni naru Pattern. This is a general respectful form (sonkeigo) for verbs, typically used when talking about a superior or customer.
You form it by taking the verb stem, adding お (o), then になる (ni naru). For example, the verb 読む (yomu - to read) becomes お読みになる (oyomi ni naru - to read respectfully). You would use this to describe your boss reading a report, not yourself.
Next, we encounter Special Keigo Verbs, which are entirely different words used for specific actions. These are often divided into respectful (sonkeigo) and humble (kenjougo) categories. For respectful language, essential verbs include 召し上がる (meshiagaru - to eat/drink) instead of 食べる (taberu) or 飲む (nomu), and いらっしゃる (irassharu - to come/go/be) instead of 来る (kuru), 行く (iku), or いる (iru).
For example, 「社長はもう召し上がりましたか？」 (Shachō wa mō meshiagarimashita ka? - Has the president already eaten?) For humble language, used to humble your *own* actions, 申す (mōsu - to say/tell) is commonly used instead of 言う (iu). So, 「田中と申します。」 (Tanaka to mōshimasu.
- My name is Tanaka. / I am called Tanaka.)
To express your Humble Actions, you use the O-suru / Go-suru pattern. This is a kenjougo form, indicating that your action is done humbly for the benefit of others. For verbs, it’s お + verb stem + する (suru), such as お手伝いする (otetsudai suru - to help).
For nouns that can act as verbs (like contact), it's ご + noun + する. For example, ご連絡する (gorenraku suru - to contact). This shows your dedication and politeness when offering a service.
The particle ～として (toshite) is incredibly useful for defining roles or capacities. It means «as a...» or
in the capacity of...
and can be used with nouns. For instance, 「私はプロジェクトマネージャーとして担当します。」 (Watashi wa purojekuto manējā toshite tantō shimasu.
- I will be in charge as a project manager.) This clarifies your position or function.
Finally, we have ～なんか (nanka) and ～なんて (nante), which add a touch of modesty, slight dismissal, or surprise in casual conversation. They can soften a statement or express a feeling of unworthiness. For example, 「私なんかまだまだです。」 (Watashi nanka madamada desu.
- Someone like me is still far from perfect.) or 「日本語なんて、全然話せませんよ。」 (Nihongo nante, zenzen hanasemasen yo. - Japanese, of all things, I can't speak it at all.) These are excellent for adding natural flair but should be used carefully in formal settings.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 社長が召し上がります。 (Shachō ga meshiagarimasu. - The president will eat.)
✓ Correct: 社長がいらっしゃいます。 (Shachō ga irassharimasu. - The president will come/be.)
*Explanation:* While 召し上がる is respectful, it means to eat/drink. If you want to say
the president will come,
you need the respectful verb いらっしゃる. Many learners confuse these special keigo verbs.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 私がお読みになります。 (Watashi ga oyomi ni narimasu. - I will read respectfully.)
✓ Correct: 私がお読みします。 (Watashi ga oyomi shimasu. - I will read humbly.)
*Explanation:* The O-ni naru pattern is for *someone else's* actions (sonkeigo). When referring to your *own* humble action, you use the O-suru pattern (お読みする).
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 「これなんか、どうですか？」とお客様に言いました。 (
    Kore nanka, dō desu ka?
    to okyakusama ni iimashita. - I said to the customer,
    How about this, or something like it?
    )
✓ Correct: 「こちらはいかがでしょうか？」とお客様に言いました。 (
Kochira wa ikaga deshō ka?
to okyakusama ni iimashita. - I said to the customer,
How about this one?
)
*Explanation:* ～なんか and ～なんて are casual particles that can sound dismissive or overly humble. They are generally inappropriate when speaking to customers or superiors in formal settings. Use more direct and polite expressions.

Real Conversations

A

A

部長、今日の会議資料はもうお読みになりましたか？ (Buchō, kyō no kaigi shiryō wa mō oyomi ni narimashita ka? - Manager, have you already read today's meeting materials?)
B

B

ええ、先ほど拝見しました。素晴らしいですね。 (Ee, sakihodo haiken shimashita. Subarashii desu ne. - Yes, I just looked at them humbly. They're excellent.)
A

A

お客様、ご注文はもうお決まりでしょうか？ (Okyakusama, gochūmon wa mō okimari deshō ka? - Customer, have you decided on your order yet?)
B

B

はい、コーヒーをお願いします。 (Hai, kōhī o onegai shimasu. - Yes, I'd like coffee, please.)
A

A

鈴木さん、このプロジェクトはあなたが担当するの？ (Suzuki-san, kono purojekuto wa anata ga tantō suru no? - Suzuki-san, are you in charge of this project?)
B

B

はい、一応リーダーとして進めています。でも私なんか、まだまだ経験が浅いので… (Hai, ichiō rīdā toshite susumete imasu. Demo watashi nanka, madamada keiken ga asai node… - Yes, I'm proceeding as the leader for now. But someone like me still has little experience, so...)

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use keigo in Japanese grammar?

You should use keigo when speaking to superiors (boss, teacher, senior colleagues), customers, strangers, or in formal business settings to show respect and humility.

Q

What's the main difference between Sonkeigo (respectful language) and Kenjougo (humble language)?

Sonkeigo (e.g., O-ni naru, 召し上がる, いらっしゃる) elevates the person you're speaking about or to, showing respect for *their* actions. Kenjougo (e.g., O-suru / Go-suru, 申す) humbles *your own* actions to show deference to the listener.

Q

Can I use ～なんか or ～なんて in formal business conversations?

Generally, no. ～なんか and ～なんて are casual and can imply a dismissive or overly self-deprecating tone, which is inappropriate in formal or business contexts. Stick to standard polite forms or more direct humble expressions.

Q

Is ～として always used in formal Japanese?

No, ～として can be used in both formal and casual contexts to define a role or capacity. Its formality depends more on the surrounding sentence structure and politeness level.

Cultural Context

Keigo is far more than just polite speech in Japan; it's a fundamental expression of social order and respect for hierarchy. Using the correct keigo patterns demonstrates your understanding of your relationship with the other person, acknowledging their status relative to yours. Misusing it can inadvertently cause offense or create awkwardness.
While standard keigo is universally understood, some regional variations exist in dialectal politeness (e.g., Kansai-ben), but the core principles of Sonkeigo and Kenjougo remain consistent across Japan. Mastering these forms shows genuine cultural sensitivity and competence.

주요 예문 (2)

1

Nimotsu o o-mochi shimashou ka.

짐을 들어 드릴까요?

겸양어: 남을 위해 행동하기 (O-suru / Go-suru)
2

Ato hodo go-renraku shimasu.

나중에 연락드리겠습니다.

겸양어: 남을 위해 행동하기 (O-suru / Go-suru)

팁과 요령 (4)

⚠️

스스로를 높이는 실수

오~니 나루는 절대 자신에게 쓰지 마세요. «제가 영광스럽게 기다렸습니다» ({私|わたし}는{お|o}{待|ま}ちになりました)라고 하면 거만하고 혼란스럽게 들릴 수 있어요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 존경어의 기본: O-ni naru (お～になる) 패턴
🎯

'이(I)-규칙' 암기 팁

특별 존경어 4인방(irassharu, ossharu, nasaru, kudasaru)은 ます가 붙을 때 '리'가 아니라 '이'로 변해요. «いらっしゃいます»처럼 말이죠. 이 넷을 '빅 4'라고 기억해두면 편해요!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 특별 경어 동사: 존경어와 겸양어 (召し上がる, いらっしゃる, 申す)
🎯

'전화'는 예외예요!

{電話|でんわ}는 한자어지만 보통 go-denwa가 아니라 o-denwa라고 해요. 입에 착 붙는 자연스러운 소리를 선호하기 때문이죠! «お{電話|でんわ}いたします。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 겸양어: 남을 위해 행동하기 (O-suru / Go-suru)
🎯

명사를 꾸며줄 땐 'no'가 필수!

«친구로서 조언할게»가 아니라 «친구로서의 조언이야»처럼 뒤의 명사를 꾸미고 싶다면 'no'를 붙여보세요. «友人としての意見»라고 하면 훨씬 자연스러운 문장이 됩니다.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ～として (...로서 / 자격)

핵심 어휘 (5)

社長(しゃちょう) company president 召(め)し上(あ)がる to eat (honorific) 申(もう)す to say (humble) 担当(たんとう) person in charge 恐縮(きょうしゅく) feeling indebted/humbled

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Review Summary

  • お + stem + になります
  • お + stem + します

자주 하는 실수

You used honorific language for yourself. Never use honorifics to describe your own actions.

Wrong: 私(わたし)はお読(よ)みになります。
정답: 私(わたし)は読(よ)みます。

You used humble language for your boss. Always use honorifics for superiors.

Wrong: 社長(しゃちょう)が申(もう)しました。
정답: 社長(しゃちょう)がおっしゃいました。

Do not add particles before 'toshite'. It acts as the particle itself.

Wrong: 担当(たんとう)にとして...
정답: 担当(たんとう)として...

Next Steps

You've conquered the basics of keigo! Keep practicing these patterns in your daily interactions to make them second nature.

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Continue to: Logic, Expectations, and Social Norms

빠른 연습 (10)

문장의 의미와 알맞은 감정을 연결해 보세요.

의미 연결하기:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
'Nante'는 주로 충격을, 'nanka'는 귀찮은 일을 가볍게 무시하거나 자신을 낮출 때 유용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 겸손과 무시의 표현: ~なんか / ~なんて

다음 문장에서 경어 사용이 잘못된 부분을 찾아보세요.

사장님은 저에게 연락하셨습니다. (社長は私にご連絡しました。)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 社長는 私にご{連絡|れんらく}くださいました。
사장님의 행동에는 겸양어인 go-noun-suru를 쓸 수 없어요. 사장님이 나에게 연락을 '주셨다'는 의미인 kudasaimashita를 써야 자연스럽습니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 겸양어: 남을 위해 행동하기 (O-suru / Go-suru)

역할을 나타내는 '로서'의 올바른 사용법은?

"팬으로서 말하겠습니다."를 일본어로 가장 자연스럽게 옮긴 것은?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ファンとして話します。(Fan toshite hanashimasu)
のように는 '팬처럼'(비유)이고, として는 '팬이라는 자격으로'(역할)를 의미합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ～として (...로서 / 자격)

'스루' 동사 패턴에 맞는 것을 고르세요.

{課長|かちょう}は{会議|かいぎ}に___。(과장님께서 회의에 참석하십니다.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {ご|go}{出席|しゅっせき}になります
한자어 명사 동사인 '슛세키(出席)'는 보통 '오(お)' 대신 '고(ご)'를 사용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 존경어의 기본: O-ni naru (お～になる) 패턴

'안내하다'를 겸양어로 바꿔서 문장을 완성해 보세요.

私が工場를 ___합니다。(제가 공장을 안내해 드리겠습니다.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ご案内
{案内|あんない}는 한자어이므로 'go'를 붙입니다. 전체 문장은 go-annai shimasu가 됩니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 겸양어: 남을 위해 행동하기 (O-suru / Go-suru)

선생님의 가방을 들어드리고 싶을 때, 어떤 표현이 가장 적절할까요?

You want to carry your teacher's bag. What do you say?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 先生、お持ちします！
O-mochi shimasu는 나의 행동을 낮추는 겸양어입니다. O-mochi ni narimasu는 선생님이 드신다는 존경어이고, mochimasu는 너무 사무적인 느낌이에요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 겸양어: 남을 위해 행동하기 (O-suru / Go-suru)

다음 중 겸손을 나타내는 문장은 무엇인가요?

일본어 실력에 대한 칭찬을 받았을 때 가장 자연스러운 대답을 고르세요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 私なんか、まだまだですよ。
'~nanka'는 자신의 실력을 낮추어 말할 때 사용하는 전형적인 겸손 표현입니다. 일본식 예절이 듬뿍 담긴 대답이죠.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 겸손과 무시의 표현: ~なんか / ~なんて

틀린 부분을 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

실수: 学生として、勉強した。(의도: 학생이었을 때 공부했다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 학생의 때(Gakusei no toki)에 공부했다.
과거의 시간적 범위를 말할 때는 の時(no toki)를 써야 합니다. として는 시점이 아니라 자격에만 집중하거든요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ～として (...로서 / 자격)

놀라움을 표현하는 문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

{明日|あした}부터 {学校|がっこう}가 시작된다니( {始|はじ}まるなんか ), 싫다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {明日|あした}부터{学校|가っこう}가{始|はじ}まるなんて、{嫌|いや}だな。
구체적인 사건이나 사실에 대해 놀라움이나 감정을 표현할 때는 'nanka'보다 'nante'가 훨씬 자연스럽습니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 겸손과 무시의 표현: ~なんか / ~なんて

어색한 실수를 찾아보세요.

{私|わたし}は{お|o}{帰|かえ}りになりました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {私|わたし}は{帰|かえ}りました。
자신의 행동에는 오~니 나루를 사용할 수 없어요. 그냥 정중한 ます형이나 겸양어를 사용하세요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 존경어의 기본: O-ni naru (お～になる) 패턴

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

네, 가족에게 직접 말할 때는 가능하지만, 보통은 조부모님처럼 아주 연세가 많으신 분들께만 사용해요. 외부 사람에게 가족에 대해 말할 때는 절대 사용하지 않아요. 가족은 '우리 편'이기 때문에 낮춰 말해야 하거든요.
수동태({書|か}かれる 등)는 '가벼운' 존대예요. 말하기 더 빠르고 약간 덜 격식적이죠. 오~니 나루는 더 '무겁고' 명확한 존대예요. 중요한 비즈니스 회의에서는 오~니 나루를 사용하는 것이 좋아요.
둘 다 '말하다'의 겸양어지만, «申し上げる»가 더 정중하고 상대방에게 직접적인 영향을 주는 말을 할 때 자주 쓰여요. 예를 들어 «お詫び申し上げます»(사과드립니다)처럼요.
아니요, «いらっしゃる»는 사람(윗사람)에게만 써요. 사물이 정중하게 '있다'고 할 때는 «ございます»를 써야 해요. 예를 들어 «メニューでございます»(메뉴입니다/있습니다)라고 하죠.
존경의 '방향'이 달라요. 존경어는 상대방의 행동을 높여주는 것이고, 겸양어는 나의 행동을 낮춰서 상대를 돋보이게 하는 거예요. 내가 술을 마실 때는 «{頂|いただ}きます»라고 겸양어를 쓰고, 상사께서 드실 때는 «{召|め}し{上|あ}がります»라고 존경어를 쓴답니다.
아니요! 자주 쓰는 동사들은 아예 전용 겸양어가 따로 있어요. 예를 들어 '{見|み}る'는 o-mi suru가 아니라 {拝見|はいけん}する라고 해야 해요. 전용 단어가 없는 일반적인 동사들에 이 패턴을 씁니다.
다음 챕터
Logic, Expectations, and Social Norms
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