Quick answer
Keigo is the Japanese system of politeness and respect — the layer of language that marks social distance between speaker and listener, and between the people you talk about. It has three parts: teineigo (polite です/ます style), sonkeigo (respectful language that raises the other person's actions), and kenjougo (humble language that lowers your own actions). You do not need all of it at once, but in any Japanese workplace the difference between the three is what separates competent Japanese from beginner Japanese.
What Keigo Is and Why It Matters
Japanese encodes social relationship directly into the grammar. The same action — "go", "say", "see" — has different verbs depending on who does it and who you are speaking to. Keigo signals respect, distance, and role. In customer service and business it is expected; using plain form (だ/る) with a client or a senior is a noticeable error. Even outside work, a light teineigo layer is the safe default with strangers.
The Three Layers
A simple way to remember: teineigo is about how you speak to someone; sonkeigo raises what they do; kenjougo lowers what you do. Both sonkeigo and kenjougo exist to show respect to the listener or a third party — they are not about you feeling humble, they are about positioning. [VERIFY] — labels and scope vary by textbook.
Teineigo: The Polite Layer
This is the first keigo you learn — です and ます forms. It works for almost any everyday interaction with people you do not know well: shop staff, neighbours, teachers. It does not raise or lower anyone; it just makes your speech polite.
Sonkeigo: Respectful Language
Sonkeigo raises the actions of the person you respect — a customer, a senior, a client. Never use it for your own actions. Two patterns are most common: the お～になる frame, and a set of special verbs that replace the plain verb entirely.
Kenjougo: Humble Language
Kenjougo lowers your own actions to show respect to the listener. It is what you use to describe what you or your in-group do when speaking to someone you owe respect. Like sonkeigo, it has an お～する frame and a set of special verbs.
The golden rule: sonkeigo for the other person's actions, kenjougo for your own. Swapping them — using humble forms for a client's actions — is a serious error. [VERIFY]
When to Use Which
Quick decision guide
- Strangers, shop staff, teachers: teineigo (です/ます).
- Customers, clients, seniors — describing what THEY do: sonkeigo.
- Customers, clients, seniors — describing what YOU do: kenjougo.
- Friends, family, close colleagues: plain form (だ/る) is fine.
Keigo in JLPT
Keigo grammar and vocabulary appear from around N4 (basic です/ます and a few respectful verbs) and become a tested topic at N3 and N2, where questions check that you can distinguish sonkeigo from kenjougo and pick the right form for the speaker's relationship. N2 reading and listening also assume familiarity with workplace keigo. [VERIFY] — exact coverage varies by level.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these
- Using sonkeigo for your own actions. Respectful forms raise the other person; using them for yourself sounds arrogant or wrong.
- Double-polite stacking. お～～になります is incorrect — one polite marker, not two.
- Over-using keigo with friends. Excessive politeness with close colleagues can sound cold or sarcastic.
- Mixing levels within one sentence. Keep the register consistent.
- Treating keigo as just vocabulary. It is a system tied to relationship — learn who each form is for, not just the word.
- Forgetting that teineigo is enough for most everyday situations. Reach for sonkeigo/kenjougo in business and formal contexts, not for buying a coffee.
Key Takeaways
Remember these
- Keigo has three layers: teineigo (polite), sonkeigo (respectful — raises others), kenjougo (humble — lowers yourself).
- Sonkeigo for their actions, kenjougo for yours — never swap them.
- Teineigo (です/ます) is the safe default with strangers; reserve sonkeigo/kenjougo for formal and business settings.
- Learn the core verb swaps (行く→参る/いらっしゃる, 言う→申す/おっしゃる, etc.) as your first keigo set.
- Keigo is tested from N3 and is assumed knowledge at N2. [VERIFY]
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need keigo to pass JLPT?
Teineigo is needed from N5. Sonkeigo and kenjougo are tested from around N3 and are assumed at N2. If you are aiming at N2 or working in Japan, keigo is not optional. [VERIFY]
What is the difference between sonkeigo and kenjougo?
Sonkeigo raises the actions of the person you respect (their going, saying, doing). Kenjougo lowers your own actions to show respect to the listener (your going, saying, doing). Use sonkeigo for them, kenjougo for you.
Is keigo only for business?
No, but business is where it matters most. A light teineigo layer is normal with strangers in daily life. Full sonkeigo/kenjougo is for customers, clients, and formal situations.
How do I practise keigo?
Learn the core verb swaps as a set, then practise in role-play situations (shop staff and customer, junior and senior). Listening to real workplace Japanese — dramas, business podcasts — trains your ear for which form goes with which role.
Can keigo sound too polite?
Yes. Over-polite forms with friends or close colleagues can sound distant or sarcastic. Match the register to the relationship — that judgement is part of using keigo correctly.