Understanding Keigo: Why Politeness in Japanese Isn’t Just Polite
Understanding Keigo: Why Politeness in Japanese Isn't Just Polite
If you’ve ever studied Japanese—or even just watched a bit of anime—you’ve probably heard that Japanese has “polite speech.” But keigo (敬語) isn’t just about being nice. It’s a whole system that reflects social roles, relationships, and cultural nuance. And yes, it can be confusing at first.
In this blog post, we’ll give you a quick intro to what keigo is, when you need it, and how it works. Then, we’ll link you to detailed breakdowns of each main form:
- Sonkeigo (respectful speech)
- Kenjougo (humble speech)
- Teineigo (polite speech)
What is keigo, really?
Keigo literally means “respectful language,” but it goes beyond just being formal. It’s a way to show respect for someone else’s position, or to lower yourself in a conversation depending on the context. It’s deeply cultural, and it shows up in everything from customer service to job interviews.
Do I really need to learn it?
Yes and no. If you’re just starting out, it’s okay to focus on casual speech and basic polite forms (like using です and ます). But as you go deeper, especially if you want to work or live in Japan, keigo becomes essential. It’s also a great way to understand the values behind the language.
Want to dig deeper?
We’ve made dedicated pages to explain each type of keigo in detail:
- What is Sonkeigo? (Respectful language)
- What is Kenjougo? (Humble language)
- What is Teineigo? (Polite language)