Honorific Language Support

What Is Honorific Language Support?

Honorific language support refers to the capability—human or automated—to identify, generate, and appropriately use Japanese polite expressions, known as keigo (敬語). This encompasses understanding which forms to use, and when, in accordance with hierarchical, social, and cultural context. In AI and automation, machines must parse relational cues and dynamically select the correct honorific level, mimicking the complex etiquette of native speakers.

Core Components:

• Linguistic structure with specialized verbs, noun forms, honorific suffixes/prefixes, sentence patterns
• Cultural sensitivity to age, status, group belonging, situational formality
• Practical implementation in customer service bots, translation platforms, email automation, educational software

Japanese Keigo: Core Categories

Three Main Types

Sonkeigo (Respectful Language)

Definition and Purpose

Elevates the listener or third party, particularly superiors, clients, or guests. Shows respect by using special verb forms and honorific prefixes.

Grammatical Features

Key Transformations:

Construction Patterns

Pattern 1: Special Respectful Verbs

Standard: 社長が来ます (shachō ga kimasu)
→ The president is coming

Respectful: 社長がいらっしゃいます (shachō ga irasshaimasu)
→ The president is coming (respectful)

Pattern 2: お + Verb Stem + になる

Standard: 読みます (yomimasu - reads)
→ Respectful: お読みになります (oyomi ni narimasu)

Standard: 書きます (kakimasu - writes)
→ Respectful: お書きになります (okaki ni narimasu)

Pattern 3: Honorific Prefix + Noun

お名前 (onamae) - your name (polite)
ご意見 (goiken) - your opinion (polite)

Usage Examples

Business Context:

部長がご覧になりました。
(Buchō ga goran ni narimashita.)
The manager viewed it. (respectful)

お客様がいらっしゃいます。
(Okyaku-sama ga irasshaimasu.)
The customer is coming. (respectful)

Kenjōgo (Humble Language)

Definition and Purpose

Expresses humility by lowering the speaker’s or in-group’s actions relative to the listener/out-group. Used when talking about oneself or one’s company to outsiders.

Grammatical Features

Key Transformations:

Construction Patterns

Pattern 1: Special Humble Verbs

Standard: 私が言います (watashi ga iimasu)
→ I will say

Humble: 私が申し上げます (watashi ga mōshiagemasu)
→ I will say (humble)

Pattern 2: お + Verb Stem + する

Standard: 案内します (annai shimasu - guide)
→ Humble: ご案内します (goannai shimasu)

Standard: 連絡します (renraku shimasu - contact)
→ Humble: ご連絡します (gorenraku shimasu)

Usage Examples

Business Context:

田中と申します。
(Tanaka to mōshimasu.)
My name is Tanaka. (humble)

資料を拝見いたします。
(Shiryō wo haiken itashimasu.)
I will review the materials. (humble)

明日伺います。
(Ashita ukagaimasu.)
I will visit tomorrow. (humble)

Teineigo (Polite Language)

Definition and Purpose

Universal polite register, safe for use with strangers, in business, and most formal situations. The baseline for respectful communication.

Grammatical Features

Core Elements:

Usage Examples

明日行きます。
(Ashita ikimasu.)
I will go tomorrow.

これは本です。
(Kore wa hon desu.)
This is a book.

昨日食べました。
(Kinō tabemashita.)
I ate yesterday.

Honorific Suffixes and Prefixes

Name Honorifics (Suffixes)

Noun Prefixes

Critical Rule: Never use honorifics for yourself—always for others.

Cultural Context: Uchi-Soto Dynamics

In-Group vs. Out-Group

Key Principle

When talking to outsiders about your in-group:

• Use humble language for your side (even superiors)
• Use respectful language for their side

Example:

Employee to client about company president:

Wrong: 社長がいらっしゃいます
(Using respectful form for own president)

Correct: 社長が参ります
(Using humble form when talking to outsider)

Social Hierarchy Factors

Determining Honorific Level:

Application in AI and Automation

AI Chatbot Implementation

Requirements:

Example Workflow:

User Query Analysis
    ↓
Identify Relationship (customer, employee, general)
    ↓
Determine Formality Level
    ↓
Select Keigo Type:
    - Customer → Sonkeigo + Teineigo
    - About Company → Kenjōgo + Teineigo
    - General → Teineigo
    ↓
Generate Response
    ↓
Validate Consistency

Business Process Automation

Email Automation:

Customer Support Automation:

def generate_greeting(user_type):
    if user_type == "customer":
        return "お客様、いらっしゃいませ。" # Respectful
    elif user_type == "employee":
        return "お疲れ様です。" # Polite
    else:
        return "こんにちは。" # General polite

def describe_company_action(action):
    # Use humble form for own company
    return f"弊社が{humble_verb(action)}いたします。"
    
def describe_customer_action(action):
    # Use respectful form for customer
    return f"お客様が{respectful_verb(action)}になります。"

Language Learning Applications

Features:

Common Implementation Challenges

Typical Errors

AI-Specific Challenges

Context Detection:

• Difficulty identifying subtle status cues
• Ambiguous user relationships
• Missing historical interaction context
• Cultural nuance interpretation

Dynamic Adaptation:

• Relationship changes mid-conversation
• Formality level shifts
• Group membership changes
• Situational formality variations

Mitigation Strategies

Technical Solutions:

Process Solutions:

• Human review for high-stakes interactions
• Customer feedback mechanisms
• Continuous model training
• Cultural expert consultation

Comprehensive Verb Transformation Table

Practical Implementation Guidelines

For AI Developers

Design Principles:

1. Default to safer polite forms when uncertain
2. Implement context tracking across conversation
3. Provide override mechanisms for edge cases
4. Log honorific usage for quality improvement
5. Enable cultural expert review workflows

Testing Requirements:

• Multi-persona scenario testing
• Cultural appropriateness validation
• Edge case handling verification
• Consistency across conversation flows
• Performance under ambiguous inputs

For Business Users

Deployment Guidelines:

For Language Learners

Learning Path:

Level 1: Master Teineigo (Polite Forms)
    ↓
Level 2: Learn Sonkeigo Basics (Common Respectful Verbs)
    ↓
Level 3: Add Kenjōgo Fundamentals (Essential Humble Forms)
    ↓
Level 4: Understand Uchi-Soto Dynamics
    ↓
Level 5: Practice Situational Switching
    ↓
Level 6: Master Advanced Forms and Nuance

Regional and Generational Variations

Regional Differences

Generational Trends

Business Context: Traditional keigo remains essential regardless of generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the safest honorific approach when uncertain?

A: Use teineigo (polite -masu/-desu forms) with -san suffix. This is neutral and appropriate in most situations.

Q: Can AI perfectly replicate native keigo usage?

A: Current AI can handle standard patterns well but may struggle with subtle cultural nuances requiring deep contextual understanding. Human review recommended for high-stakes interactions.

Q: How important is keigo for foreigners?

A: Essential in business settings. Native speakers are forgiving of learner errors but appreciate effort. Proper keigo significantly impacts professional credibility.

Q: What happens if I use wrong keigo?

A: Minor errors are usually forgiven, especially for non-natives. Major errors (e.g., using respectful forms for yourself) can seem rude or comical.

Q: How do I know when to switch keigo levels?

A: Follow the other person’s lead, consider the setting (business vs. social), and when in doubt, maintain formal politeness.

References

• Mastering the Art of Japanese Keigo - Nichijougo
• Mastering Honorifics: Japanese Keigo Translation Guide – OTranslator
• Ultimate Guide to Japanese Language Levels – Kylian.ai
• Busuu: Japanese Honorifics: San, Chan, Kun and Beyond
• VerbalPlanet: Introduction to Japanese Keigo
• Coto Academy: Introduction to Japanese Keigo
• Japanese Keigo Explained – YouTube
• Business Japanese: Mastering Keigo – YouTube