N46 patterns

N4 Grammar: Honorifics

Honorific and humble speech patterns for polite and formal communication

Practice N4 grammar All N4 Grammar

6 points

Every N4 honorifics pattern

What each pattern means, when to use it, and the mistakes that cost marks in the exam.

でございます (de gozaimasu)to be (polite)

A very polite form of 'desu'. Often used in formal situations, business, or by service staff.

Common mistakes

Using in casual conversation
Confusing with 'gozaimasu' (which is the polite 'arimasu')
Misplacing it after an i-adjective (should be noun + de gozaimasu)

Full でございます (de gozaimasu) guide

いらっしゃる (irassharu)to be; to go; to come (honorific)

A special honorific verb that replaces 'iru', 'iku', and 'kuru' when referring to a person of higher status.

Common mistakes

Using for one's own actions (should be 'mairu' or 'oru')
Confusing with the humble 'itasu'
Using with improper polite endings (it's 'irasshaimasu', not 'irassharimasu')

Full いらっしゃる (irassharu) guide

いたす (itasu)to do (humble)

The humble version of the verb 'suru'. Used to describe one's own actions when speaking to someone of higher status.

Common mistakes

Using for someone else's actions (should be 'nasaru')
Using when the action does not involve a superior
Confusing with the respectful 'irassharu'

Full いたす (itasu) guide

なさる (nasaru)to do (honorific)

The respectful version of the verb 'suru'. Used to describe the actions of a person of higher status.

Common mistakes

Using for one's own actions (should be 'itasu')
Using with improper polite endings (it's 'nasaimasu', not 'nasarimasu')
Confusing with 'irassharu'

Full なさる (nasaru) guide

お + V-ます stem + になるto do (honorific)

A respectful way to describe the actions of someone of higher status. Formation: お + verb masu-stem + になる (e.g., 読む → お読みになる). Cannot be used with verbs that have special honorific forms (like いく → いらっしゃる) or with する verbs (use ご～になる instead).

Common mistakes

Using for one's own actions (should be humble 'o~suru')
Using with verbs that have special honorific forms
Confusing 'ni naru' with 'o suru'

Full お + V-ます stem + になる guide

お + V-ます stem + するto do (humble)

A humble (謙譲語) way to describe one's own actions when they involve or affect someone of higher status. Formation: お + verb masu-stem + する/します (e.g., 持つ → お持ちする). For する-verbs, use ご～する instead (e.g., ご案内する).

Common mistakes