sensushi
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謙譲語 details

Examples

humble speech — presenting your own action as something done toward the person you defer to

明日あすの三時さんじに御社おんしゃへ伺うかがいます。

asu no sanji ni onsha e ukagaimasu.

I will visit your company at three tomorrow. formal

先生せんせいの論文ろんぶんを拝見はいけんしました。とても勉強べんきょうになりました。

sensei no ronbun o haiken shimashita. totemo benkyou ni narimashita.

I read your paper, professor. I learned a great deal from it. formal

詳くわしいことは、明日あすの会議かいぎで私わたしから申もうし上あげるつもりだ。

kuwashii koto wa, asu no kaigi de watashi kara moushiageru tsumori da.

I intend to explain the details myself at tomorrow's meeting. neutral

部長ぶちょうにご相談そうだんして、貴重きちょうなご意見いけんをいただきました。

buchou ni go soudan shite, kichou na go iken o itadakimashita.

I consulted the manager and received valuable advice. formal

Formation

Notes

It covers your whole side, not just you — 父ちちが伺うかがいます is correct.
Pointing it at the listener's own action demotes the very person you meant to
respect: ×先生せんせいが伺うかがいました.

Related patterns

Similar

  • 尊敬語

    Not two politeness levels but two directions — 尊敬語 lifts the action of the person you are describing, 謙譲語 lowers your own; whose action it is decides which one you may use, so neither is ever the "politer" choice.

Lookalikes

  • 丁重語

    申もうし上あげる and 申もうす differ by more than length — 謙譲語 needs someone the action reaches and lowers you toward them (先生せんせいに申もうし上あげる), while 丁重語 has no such person and merely dresses the act for the listener (私わたしは田中たなかと申もうします).

Combines with

  • お〜する

    お〜する is the productive half of this register: use it for any verb the memorised list does not cover, and only for an act that touches the person you defer to — a solo act (×お歩あるきする) has nobody to lower yourself toward.

  • ていただく

    〜ていただく humbles the RECEIVING of a favour rather than the act itself, which is why it stacks on someone else's verb (見みていただく) where お〜する can only stand on your own.