Humble Actions: Doing things for others (O-suru / Go-suru)
o/go + suru to humbly describe your own actions when they affect a superior.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Humble language lowers yourself to elevate the listener, using the formula 'O/Go + stem + suru'.
- Use 'O' for native Japanese verbs: {お持ち|おもち}します (I will carry it).
- Use 'Go' for Sino-Japanese (kanji) verbs: {ご連絡|ごれんらく}します (I will contact you).
- Only use this for your own actions, never for the listener's actions.
Overview
Japanese honorifics, Keigo (敬語), are a sophisticated linguistic system for expressing social relationships. Within Keigo, there are three primary categories: respectful language, Sonkeigo (尊敬語), which elevates others; polite language, Teineigo (丁寧語), which is the standard polite register (~desu / ~masu); and humble language, Kenjougo (謙譲語). The o-suru / go-suru pattern is a cornerstone of Kenjougo.
Kenjougo works by humbling your own actions or the actions of your in-group (e.g., your colleagues, your family members when speaking to an outsider). By verbally lowering yourself, you implicitly elevate the status of the person you are speaking to or about—typically a social superior, a client, or a member of an out-group. This grammar isn't simply about being polite; it's a deliberate and necessary tool for navigating Japan's hierarchical social structures with grace and professionalism.
Mastering it signals a high degree of social and linguistic competence.
This pattern transforms a neutral action into an act of deference. For example, 手伝います (tetsudaimasu, "I will help") is polite, but お手伝いします (otetsudai shimasu) means "I will humbly help (for your benefit)." The action is the same, but the social meaning is profoundly different. It acknowledges the relationship between you and the other person, making it indispensable in business, customer service, and formal interactions.
How This Grammar Works
o-suru / go-suru is self-deprecation for the sake of other-elevation. It's a linguistic seesaw: by pushing your end down, the other end goes up. This is the opposite of Sonkeigo, which directly elevates the other person's actions (e.g., saying someone いらっしゃる instead of いる).- Neutral Polite (Teineigo):
私が持ちます。(I will carry them.) - Humble (Kenjougo):
私がお持ちします。(I will humbly carry them for you.)
o- and the use of shimasu (from suru) is a grammatical signal that this action is directed upward in the social hierarchy.Formation Pattern
o- and go- prefix is determined by the origin of the verb's core noun or stem. The basic rule is simple, but as with all Keigo, there are important exceptions and variations.
o + Verb Stem + suru
~masu from the polite form, also known as the 連用形|れんようけい) and add o- before it and suru after.
masu-Stem | Humble Form (Plain) | Humble Form (Polite) | Meaning (Humble) |
待つ (to wait) | 待ち | お待ちする | お待ちします | to humbly wait |
送る (to send) | 送り | お送りする | お送りします | to humbly send |
届ける (to deliver) | 届け | お届けけする | お届けけします | to humbly deliver |
呼ぶ (to call) | 呼び | お呼びする | お呼びします | to humbly call/summon |
go + Noun + suru
suru. For these, you add the prefix go- to the noun base.
連絡する (to contact) | ご連絡する | ご連絡します | to humbly contact |
説明する (to explain) | ご説明する | ご説明します | to humbly explain |
案内する (to guide) | ご案内する | ご案内します | to humbly guide |
報告する (to report) | ご報告する | ご報告します | to humbly report |
o- / go- + itasu (致す)
suru with its own special humble equivalent, 致す (itasu). This is extremely common in business and formal writing.
お待ちします → お待ちいたします (More formal)
ご連絡します → ご連絡いたします (More formal)
itashimasu is standard practice in customer-facing roles and communication with senior management. It is a stronger, more deferential signal than shimasu.
o- / go-suru pattern. Failure to do so is a clear sign of a non-proficient speaker.
o-/go- Form |
行く / 来る (to go/come) | 参る (mairu) | お行きする, お来する (X) |
言う (to say) | 申す (mousu) | お言いする (X) |
見る (to see/look at) | 拝見する (haiken suru) | お見する (X) |
聞く / 訪ねる (to hear/ask/visit) | 伺う (ukagau) | お聞きする, お訪ねする (△)\* |
会う (to meet) | お目にかかる (ome ni kakaru) | お会いする (△)\* |
知っている (to know) | 存じ上げている (zonjiageteiru) | お知りする (X) |
食べる / 飲む / もらう (to eat/drink/receive) | いただく | お食べする (X) |
与える (to give to a superior) | 差し上げる (sashiageru) | お与えする (X) |
(△): While forms like お会いする and お聞きする exist, they are generally considered less humble than their special counterparts お目にかかる and 伺う. When in doubt, prefer the special form when speaking to or about someone of high status.
When To Use It
- Performing an action that directly benefits a superior. This is the classic use case. The action is a service, and the grammar marks it as such.
荷物、お持ちしましょうか。(Shall I humbly carry your luggage?)駅までお送りします。(I will humbly see you to the station.)
- Informing a superior about your own actions that concern them. When you need to report something you have done or will do, using Kenjougo shows you are mindful of their position.
明日の午前中にご連絡いたします。(I will humbly contact you tomorrow morning.)先ほど資料をメールでお送りしました。(I humbly sent the documents via email just now.)
- In formal business and customer service settings. This is the default mode of communication when interacting with clients, customers, or partners. Its absence can be perceived as unprofessional or even rude.
会場までご案内いたします。(I will humbly guide you to the venue.){ただいま}担当者にお{つなぎします。(I will now humbly connect you to the person in charge.)
- In formal requests and apologies. When making a request or apologizing for an error,
o-suru / go-suruframes your actions within a humble context, softening the imposition or reinforcing the sincerity of the apology. 恐れ入りますが、こちらにご記入いただけますでしょうか。(I'm terribly sorry to ask, but could I humbly receive your filling this out?)大変ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ございません。(I am truly sorry for humbly causing you great inconvenience.)
Common Mistakes
- The Subject Error: Confusing Kenjougo with Sonkeigo.
o-suru to a superior is disrespectful because it implies they are humbling themselves.私がお読みします。 | 先生がお読みに{なります}。 | 先生がお読みします。 (X) |私がお返しします。 | 部長がお返しに{なります}。 | 部長がお返しします。 (X) |- Ignoring Special Humble Verbs.
参る, 申す, and 拝見する.- Incorrect:
明日、先生の研究室にお行きします。 - Correct:
明日、先生の研究室に参ります。(or伺います)
- Double Keigo (二重敬語|にじゅうけいご).
- Incorrect:
資料をお拝見します。(拝見するis already humble; theo-is redundant.) - Correct:
資料を拝見します。 - Incorrect:
社長がお召し上がりに{なられました}。(召し上がるis respectful, and~られるis also a respectful form. This is a classic double-up.) - Correct:
社長が召し上がりに{なりました}。
- Incorrect Prefix Selection (
o-vs.go-).
返事 (reply) and 電話 (phone call) are Kango but conventionally take o- (お返事する, お電話する). When in doubt, start with the rule, but listen carefully to how native speakers treat specific common words.Real Conversations
Contextual examples from realistic scenarios are the best way to see how these patterns function in the wild.
1. Formal Email from a Vendor to a Client
Subject
山田様
いつもお世話になっております。株式会社subLearnの田中です。
先週金曜日は、お忙しい中、貴重なお時間をいただき、まことにありがとうございました。
当日{お話しした}件について、関連資料をお送りいたしますので、ご確認いただけますと幸いです。
ご不明な点などございましたら、私田中まで、ご遠慮なくお問い合わせください。
今後とも、どうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます。
- お送りいたします: Kenjougo (o- + stem + itasu) for the speaker's act of sending.
- お問い合わせください: Kenjougo pattern used in a request form.
- お願い申し上げます: A set phrase using a special humble verb (申す).
2. Customer Service Interaction at a Hotel Front Desk
お客様}: 「チェックインをお願いします。」
フロント: 「はい、かしこまりました。お待たせいたしました。恐れ入りますが、こちらの用紙にお名前とご住所をご記入いただけますでしょうか。」
お客様: 「はい。これでいいですか。」
フロント: 「ありがとうございます。では、お部屋の鍵でございます。エレベーターまでご案内いたします。」
- お待たseいたしました: Humble form for making someone wait.
- ご記入いただけますでしょうか: A highly polite request form using the go- prefix and the humble potential itadaku.
- ご案内いたします: Kenjougo (go- + noun + itasu) for the staff's act of guiding.
Quick FAQ
~shimasu and ~itashimasu?itashimasu signals a higher level of formality and deference. Think of shimasu as standard for internal emails to a manager, while itashimasu is the default for external clients, formal announcements, and high-stakes communication.お茶する. Is this Kenjougo?o- and go- prefixes are for general beautification of nouns, called Bikago (美化語), such as お茶 (tea), ご飯 (rice/meal), お酒 (alcohol). Phrases like お茶する are casual, modern slang derived from these beautified nouns.母がよろしくと申しておりました (My mother humbly said to give you her regards). In this sentence, you are humbling your mother (in-group) for the listener (out-group).~させていただきます a form of Double Keigo?causative form + いただく. While grammatically distinct from simple o-suru, it is often overused in business as an extremely polite "cushion" phrase, sometimes where a simpler o-itashimasu would suffice.書く), it is almost always Wago (o-). If it's a two-kanji noun that takes suru (e.g., 連絡), it's almost always Kango (go-). For the handful of exceptions (お電話, お返事), memorization through practice and exposure is the most effective method.Humble Verb Formation
| Type | Prefix | Verb Stem | Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Native
|
O
|
Mochi
|
Suru
|
お持ちします
|
|
Sino
|
Go
|
Renraku
|
Suru
|
ご連絡します
|
|
Native
|
O
|
Matase
|
Suru
|
お待たせします
|
|
Sino
|
Go
|
Shoukai
|
Suru
|
ご紹介します
|
|
Native
|
O
|
Okuri
|
Suru
|
お送りします
|
|
Sino
|
Go
|
Setsumei
|
Suru
|
ご説明します
|
Meanings
Kenjougo is used to describe your own actions when they affect someone of higher status. It creates a 'humble' stance to show extreme politeness.
Standard Humble
Describing your own actions towards a superior.
“{お待たせ|おまたせ}しました。”
“{ご説明|ごせつめい}いたします。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
O/Go + Stem + Suru
|
{お送り|おくり}します
|
|
Negative
|
O/Go + Stem + Shimasen
|
{お送り|おくり}しません
|
|
Past
|
O/Go + Stem + Shimashita
|
{お送り|おくり}しました
|
|
Polite
|
O/Go + Stem + Itashimasu
|
{お送り|おくり}いたします
|
|
Question
|
O/Go + Stem + Shimasu ka?
|
{お送り|おくり}しますか？
|
|
Continuous
|
O/Go + Stem + Shiteimasu
|
{お送り|おくり}しています
|
Formality Spectrum
お待ちしております。 (Waiting for someone)
待っています。 (Waiting for someone)
待ってるよ。 (Waiting for someone)
待機中。 (Waiting for someone)
Keigo Hierarchy
Humble
- Kenjougo Lowering self
Respectful
- Sonkeigo Raising others
Polite
- Teineigo General politeness
Examples by Level
{お待たせ|おまたせ}しました。
I kept you waiting.
{お送り|おくり}します。
I will send it.
{ご連絡|ごれんらく}します。
I will contact you.
{お話し|おはなし}します。
I will speak.
{明日|あした}、{伺|うかが}います。
I will visit tomorrow.
{お持ち|おもち}します。
I will carry it.
{ご説明|ごせつめい}いたします。
I will explain.
{お返事|おへんじ}します。
I will reply.
{資料|しりょう}を{お送り|おくり}いたしました。
I have sent the documents.
{詳細|しょうさい}を{ご説明|ごせつめい}させていただきます。
I will explain the details.
{お時間|おじかん}を{頂|いただ}けますか？
May I have your time?
{ご迷惑|ごめいわく}をおかけしました。
I have caused you trouble.
{先方|せんぽう}に{ご連絡|ごれんらく}を{申|もう}し{上|あ}げます。
I will contact the other party.
{本日|ほんじつ}は{お忙|おいそが}しいところ、{お時間|おじかん}を{頂|いただ}きありがとうございます。
Thank you for your time today despite your busy schedule.
{弊社|へいしゃ}の{製品|せいひん}を{ご紹介|ごしょうかい}いたします。
I will introduce our company's product.
{何|なに}か{お手伝|おてつだい}できることはありますか？
Is there anything I can help with?
{拝見|はいけん}いたしました。
I have seen it (humble).
{承知|しょうち}いたしました。
I understand (humble).
{お目|おめ}にかかるのを{楽|たの}しみにしています。
I look forward to meeting you.
{ご足労|ごそくろう}をおかけしました。
Thank you for coming (troubling you to come).
{恐縮|きょうしゅく}ながら、{辞退|じたい}させていただきます。
With all due respect, I must decline.
{平素|へいそ}より{格別|かくべつ}の{ご厚情|ごこうじょう}を{賜|たまわ}り、{厚|あつ}く{御礼|おんれい}{申|もう}し{上|あ}げます。
I express my deep gratitude for your constant kindness.
{不躾|ぶしつけ}ながら、{一言|ひとこと}{申|もう}し{上|あ}げたいことがございます。
Forgive my rudeness, but I have something to say.
{ご{高配|こうはい}を{賜|たまわ}り、{感謝|かんしゃ}に{堪|た|えません。
I am endlessly grateful for your kind consideration.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up humble and respectful.
Learners think polite form is enough.
Learners add 'O' to everything.
Common Mistakes
お食べします
いただきます
お持ちになります
お持ちします
ご待つします
お待ちします
お連絡します
ご連絡します
お行きします
伺います
ご話します
お話しします
お説明します
ご説明します
お見せになります
お見せします
ご伺います
伺います
おいたします
いたします
お拝見します
拝見します
ご承知します
承知いたしました
お申し上げます
申し上げます
ご参ります
参ります
Sentence Patterns
___を___します。
明日、___いたします。
___させていただきます。
___をおかけしました。
Real World Usage
ご説明させていただきます。
資料をお送りいたします。
お持ちします。
お待ちしております。
ご連絡いたしました。
ご紹介いたします。
Start Simple
Don't Overuse
Listen to Natives
Context is King
Smart Tips
Use the 'O/Go + stem + shimasu' pattern.
Use '伺います' instead of '行きます'.
Use 'お送りいたします'.
Use 'ご迷惑をおかけしました'.
Pronunciation
O/Go
Ensure the 'O' or 'Go' is pronounced clearly but not overly emphasized.
Polite Fall
Sentence ends with a slight downward pitch.
Conveys professionalism and certainty.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
O-Native, Go-Chinese. Think: 'O' is a circle (Japanese roundness), 'Go' is a go-board (Chinese game).
Visual Association
Imagine yourself bowing very low while holding a tray. The lower you bow, the more 'O' or 'Go' you add to your words.
Rhyme
Native starts with O, Chinese starts with Go, humble your actions to put on a show.
Story
You are a ninja. You enter the shogun's room. You bow low (humble). You say 'O-machi shimasu' (I will wait). You are now safe because you showed respect.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences using humble language for things you do at work or school today.
Cultural Notes
Keigo is the backbone of Japanese business. It shows you are a reliable partner.
In tea ceremony or martial arts, humble language is even more strictly enforced.
Staff use humble language to make customers feel like royalty.
Rooted in the Heian period's court language.
Conversation Starters
明日、伺ってもよろしいですか？
資料をお送りしましょうか？
ご説明させていただきます。
ご連絡いたします。
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
資料を___します。
Which is humble?
Find and fix the mistake:
お持ちになりますか？ (to a customer)
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I will contact you.
Answer starts with: a...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
___連絡します
明日、___します。
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises資料を___します。
Which is humble?
Find and fix the mistake:
お持ちになりますか？ (to a customer)
いたします / 資料 / お送り / を
I will contact you.
待つ -> ?
___連絡します
明日、___します。
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesタクシーを___しましょうか。(Shall I call a taxi?)
Connect the verb with the correct prefix (O or Go).
Boss: 'Can you copy these documents?' You:
お客様、私がご説明になります。(Customer, I will explain.)
make / shall / map / I / a / ?
急いで___します。(I will hurry preparation.)
I will wait here.
Which sentence is the most polite/humble?
お注意します。(I will be careful.)
お荷物を___しましょうか。
Select the correct situation for `O-tetsudai shimasu`.
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
It requires a shift in mindset from 'I' to 'Us/Hierarchy'.
No, it will sound sarcastic.
People will understand, but you will sound less professional.
No, polite form is neutral; humble is specific.
Listen to business Japanese and repeat.
Yes, many verbs have irregular humble forms.
Yes, very common in emails.
Humble = I do it; Respectful = You do it.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Usted
Spanish changes pronouns; Japanese changes verbs.
Vouvoiement
French is pronoun-based; Japanese is verb-based.
Sie
German is pronoun-based; Japanese is verb-based.
Sonkeigo
Humble vs Respectful.
Honorifics
Arabic is noun-based; Japanese is verb-based.
Nin
Chinese is pronoun-based; Japanese is verb-based.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
Respectful Verbs: The "O-ni naru" Pattern
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Advanced Humble Language: Humbly Doing For You (お〜申し上げる)
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Polite Permission: Taking the Liberty (~sasete itadaku)
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Special Keigo Verbs: Respectful & Humble Japanese (召し上がる, いらっしゃる, 申す)
Overview In the intricate system of Japanese honorifics (*Keigo*), certain verbs operate on a different level. Beyond t...
Humble Receiving: お~いただく / ご~いただく (o/go-itadaku)
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