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to be; to go; to come (honorific)
Definition
The grammar pattern "いらっしゃる (irassharu)" is a special honorific verb used to express the actions of a person of higher status, replacing the base forms "iru", "iku", and "kuru". It is used to convey respect and politeness, particularly when addressing someone of higher authority, such as a superior, a teacher, or a customer. The nuance of this pattern lies in its ability to subtly convey respect and deference, making it an essential tool in formal Japanese communication.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present form | いらっしゃる | 先生は、研究室にいらっしゃる |
| Past form | いらっしゃった | 先生は、昨日研究室にいらっしゃった |
| Polite form | いらっしゃいます | 先生は、研究室にいらっしゃいますか? |
Examples
先生は、研究室にいらっしゃる
Sensei wa, kenkyuushitsu ni irassharu
The teacher is in the research room.
先生 (sensei) - teacher, 研究室 (kenkyuushitsu) - research room, に (ni) - in, いらっしゃる (irassharu) - to be in (honorific)
どちらへいらっしゃいますか?
Doko e irasshaimasu ka?
Where are you going?
どちらへ (doko e) - where to, いらっしゃいます (irasshaimasu) - to go (honorific), か (ka) - question particle
明日、こちらにいらっしゃいます
Ashita, kochira ni irasshaimasu
I will be here tomorrow.
明日 (ashita) - tomorrow,こちら (kochira) - here, に (ni) - in, いらっしゃいます (irasshaimasu) - to be in (honorific)
先生は、来週にいらっしゃいます
Sensei wa, raishuu ni irasshaimasu
The teacher will be here next week.
先生 (sensei) - teacher, 来週 (raishuu) - next week, に (ni) - in, いらっしゃいます (irasshaimasu) - to be in (honorific)
Context
The grammar pattern "いらっしゃる (irassharu)" is used to express the actions of a person of higher status, particularly in formal situations. It is often used in business, education, and other professional settings. When to use this pattern, consider the following: 1) The person being addressed is of higher status or authority. 2) The situation is formal or professional. 3) You want to convey respect and politeness.
Watch out
Using "いらっしゃる (irassharu)" for one's own actions can come across as insincere or pretentious. Instead, use the base forms "来る (kuru)" or "行く (iku)" to express your own actions.
The humble "いたす (itasu)" is used to express humble actions, whereas "いらっしゃる (irassharu)" is used to express actions of higher status. Make sure to use the correct pattern depending on the context.
The polite ending "いらっしゃいます (irasshaimasu)" is the correct form to use with "いらっしゃる (irassharu)". Avoid using "いらっしゃります (irassharimasu)" as it is not a valid polite ending.
Strategy
When taking the JLPT N4 exam, be prepared to encounter "いらっしゃる (irassharu)" in various contexts. Pay attention to the usage notes and common mistakes to avoid confusion. Practice using this pattern in sentences to improve your understanding and fluency.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N4 test-style questions. Each sentence shows いらっしゃる (irassharu) used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
先生は、研究室にいらっしゃいますか。
Pattern used: いらっしゃいます
Honorific form of 'iru' (to be) for a teacher.
どちらへいらっしゃるのですか。
Pattern used: いらっしゃる
Honorific form of 'iku' (to go).
明日、こちらにいらっしゃいますか。
Pattern used: いらっしゃいます
Honorific form of 'kuru' (to come).
Interactive
先生は、研究室に______か。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.