Hello, I’m Kodak.
Imagine that you want to say “Mr. Tanaka is coming.” A Japanese textbook, a friend, and a hotel employee might use three different sentences:
Tanaka-san ga kuru.
Mr. Tanaka is coming.
⇒ plain style
田中さんが来ます。
Tanaka-san ga kimasu.
Mr. Tanaka is coming.
⇒ polite style
田中様がいらっしゃいます。
Tanaka-sama ga irasshaimasu.
Mr. Tanaka is coming.
⇒ respectful keigo
That choice of distance, politeness, respect, and humility creates Japanese formality levels.
Japanese does not have one simple “formal switch.” It uses several overlapping systems:
Plain style — forms such as だ, 行く, 高い
Used with close people, in private thoughts, and in many kinds of writing.
Polite style — forms such as です and ます
Used with unfamiliar people and in most safe, polite interactions.
Keigo — respectful, humble, and highly polite expressions
Used when a relationship or formal role requires additional respect.
The correct choice depends on who is speaking, who is listening, who performs the action, and what situation they are in.
① the major Japanese formality levels
② plain form vs polite です／ます form
③ what keigo, sonkeigo, and kenjougo do
④ where ございます and でございます fit
⑤ why Japanese adds お and ご before words
⑥ what to use with friends, teachers, customers, and coworkers
⑦ how uchi/soto changes business Japanese
⑧ common mistakes and a practical study order
Japanese Formality Is More Than “Formal vs Informal”
English explanations often divide Japanese into formal and informal. That is useful at first, but it hides several different choices.
Do you end the sentence in plain forms or in です／ます?
Choice 2: Respectful viewpoint
Do you raise the action of the person being respected?
Choice 3: Humble viewpoint
Do you lower the expression of your own or your group’s action?
Choice 4: Vocabulary and social tone
Do you use titles, お／ご prefixes, indirect requests, and formal set phrases?
Plain vs polite mainly concerns how you address the listener. Sonkeigo vs kenjougo concerns whose action you describe and the relationship between the people in that action.
They overlap, but they are not one simple ladder.
A Beginner’s Map of Japanese Formality Levels
だ／行く／高い／静かだ
Close relationships, inner thoughts, casual speech, plain-style writing
Level B: Polite style
です／行きます／高いです／静かです
Strangers, first meetings, teachers, many coworkers, travel situations
Level C: Keigo and highly formal language
いらっしゃいます／伺います／でございます
Customers, clients, formal roles, ceremonies, business communication
This map is useful, but each level contains many shades. A warm です／ます conversation can feel friendlier than a cold plain sentence. A keigo sentence can sound sincere, routine, sarcastic, or theatrical depending on context and tone.
It is usually safer and more natural for a beginner than either very casual speech or elaborate business keigo.
Level 1: Plain Form and Casual Japanese
Plain form is the basic grammatical form used without the polite endings です and ます.
学生だ — is a student
Na-adjective
静かだ — is quiet
I-adjective
高い — is expensive / high
Verb
行く — go / will go
Notice that だ appears after nouns and na-adjectives, but not directly after verbs or i-adjectives.
静かです → 静かだ
高いです → 高い
行きます → 行く
Plain form is a grammar category. Casual conversation also involves omissions, contractions, particles, tone, and relationship-specific vocabulary.
For example, 明日は休み may sound more natural in conversation than the complete 明日は休みだ.
When Plain Style Is Common
・with family members
・when speaking to yourself
・in diaries and personal notes
・inside quotations and thought clauses
・in novels, news, academic writing, and other non-polite written styles
・when a group has established a casual relationship
明日、映画を見に行く？
Ashita, eiga o mi ni iku?
Do you want to go see a movie tomorrow?
うん、暇だよ。
Un, hima da yo.
Yeah, I’m free.
Read the full guide: Desu vs Da—When Should You Use Da in Japanese?
Level 2: Desu/Masu Polite Japanese
です／ます style is the most important level for beginners. It politely addresses the listener without requiring advanced honorific verb changes.
I am / someone is a student.
静かです。
It is quiet.
高いです。
It is expensive.
行きます。
I will go.
In keigo terminology, です and ます belong to 丁寧語 (teineigo), polite language directed toward the listener.
It does not automatically raise the subject. That is why 先生が来ます is polite speech, while 先生がいらっしゃいます additionally respects the teacher’s action.
When Desu/Masu Is Usually Appropriate
・talking to a stranger
・speaking with a teacher
・traveling, shopping, or asking for help
・talking to an older person you do not know well
・many workplace conversations
・speaking publicly to a general audience
初めまして。アレックスです。
Hajimemashite. Arekkusu desu.
Nice to meet you. I’m Alex.
この電車は東京駅に行きますか。
Kono densha wa Tōkyō-eki ni ikimasu ka?
Does this train go to Tokyo Station?
People often continue using polite speech while a friendship is new, when there is an age difference, or when that style has become comfortable. Relationships do not all switch to casual speech at the same speed.
Level 3: What Is Keigo?
敬語 (keigo) means respectful or honorific language. It helps speakers express respect, humility, social distance, and professional consideration.
尊敬語 (sonkeigo)
Respectfully raises another person’s action or state.
謙譲語 (kenjougo)
Humbly presents your own or your group’s action.
丁寧語 (teineigo)
Makes the sentence polite to the listener with です and ます.
If the respected person performs it, use sonkeigo.
If you or your side performs it, use kenjougo.
Sonkeigo: Raising the Other Person’s Action
言う → おっしゃる
する → なさる
見る → ご覧になる
食べる・飲む → 召し上がる
先生はもういらっしゃいます。
Sensei wa mō irasshaimasu.
The teacher is already here.
Kenjougo: Humbling Your Side’s Action
言う → 申す／申し上げる
する → いたす
見る → 拝見する
会う → お目にかかる
明日、先生の研究室に伺います。
Ashita, sensei no kenkyūshitsu ni ukagaimasu.
I will visit the teacher’s office tomorrow.
Modern official explanations often use five categories: sonkeigo, kenjougo I, kenjougo II or teichougo, teineigo, and bikago.
Read the full guide: What Does Keigo Mean? Sonkeigo and Kenjougo Explained
Where Does Gozaimasu Fit?
ございます (gozaimasu) is a highly polite expression related to あります, meaning “there is,” “there are,” or “to exist.”
normal polite “there is / there are”
ございます
more formal “there is / there are”
です
normal polite “am / is / are”
でございます
more formal “am / is / are”
The restroom is on the second floor.
⇒ normal polite Japanese
お手洗いは二階にございます。
The restroom is on the second floor.
⇒ formal customer-service style
こちらがご予約のお部屋でございます。
Kochira ga go-yoyaku no oheya de gozaimasu.
This is your reserved room.
In an ordinary conversation, constant でございます may sound like customer service, a ceremony, or a theatrical character. Use standard です unless the setting calls for more formality.
Read the full guide: What Does Gozaimasu Mean in English?
Why Does Japanese Add O or Go Before Words?
The prefixes お and ご can express respect, humility, refinement, or a conventional polite form.
お名前 — your / another person’s name
ご住所 — your / another person’s address
Humble
お届けする — deliver humbly
ご説明する — explain humbly
Beautifying or conventional
お茶 — tea
お金 — money
ご飯 — cooked rice / meal
Expressions such as お名前, お茶, and ご連絡 are natural, but mechanically creating forms such as ご猫 or お机 usually sounds unnatural.
The rough pattern is お + native Japanese words and ご + Sino-Japanese words, but common exceptions such as お料理, お電話, and ご飯 must be learned individually.
Read the full guide: Why Do Japanese Add O Before Words?
The Same Message at Different Formality Levels
Example 1: “Tanaka Is Coming”
Tanaka is coming.
⇒ plain style
田中さんが来ます。
Tanaka is coming.
⇒ polite style
田中様がいらっしゃいます。
Mr. Tanaka is coming.
⇒ respectful sonkeigo
Example 2: “I Will Go”
I’ll go.
⇒ plain style
行きます。
I will go.
⇒ polite style
参ります。
I will go / come.
⇒ formally humble or courteous
伺います。
I will visit / ask.
⇒ humble toward the person or place connected with the action
Example 3: “This Is the Meeting Room”
This is the meeting room.
⇒ plain
ここが会議室です。
This is the meeting room.
⇒ polite
こちらが会議室でございます。
This is the meeting room.
⇒ highly formal or service-oriented
Japanese often changes pronouns, demonstratives, requests, titles, prefixes, and sentence structure together. こちら sounds more courteous than simple ここ in service contexts.
What Determines the Right Formality Level?
There is no universal chart that gives one form for every person. Speakers consider several factors at once.
close friend, stranger, teacher, customer, coworker
Role
host and guest, employee and client, student and professor
Familiarity
first meeting or long-established relationship
Setting
home, school, store, meeting, ceremony, online chat
Age and seniority
important, but not the only factors
Medium
speech, text message, email, report, announcement
Current emotional tone
friendly, serious, apologetic, distant, joking
A Practical Situation Guide
Plain style is common.
New acquaintance
Start with です／ます.
Teacher or professor
Use です／ます; add common respectful forms when appropriate.
Store or restaurant as a customer
Simple です／ます and polite requests are enough.
Speaking to a customer as staff
Customer-service keigo is normally expected.
Business client
Use polite language plus sonkeigo and kenjougo according to who performs the action.
Formal speech or ceremony
Use consistent polite or formal language suited to the event.
Uchi and Soto: Why Formality Changes with Viewpoint
Japanese business language often uses the distinction between 内 (uchi: inside / your group) and 外 (soto: outside / another group).
When you speak to a customer, your boss belongs to your company’s inside. You generally do not elevate your boss over the customer.
部長はもういらっしゃいます。
The manager is already here.
⇒ The manager can be spoken of respectfully.
Talking to a client:
部長の田中はただ今、外出しております。
Our manager Tanaka is currently out of the office.
⇒ Tanaka belongs to your side, so you avoid raising him above the client.
Inside the company, your boss may be higher. In front of a client, both of you represent the same organization. Formality is relational, not a permanent label attached to a person.
Polite Japanese Is Not Only Verb Endings
A grammatically polite ending can still create an impolite sentence if the request or vocabulary is too direct.
名前を言ってください。
Please say your name.
More courteous:
お名前を教えていただけますか。
Could you tell me your name?
Formal service style:
お名前を伺ってもよろしいでしょうか。
May I ask your name?
Politeness may involve:
・giving a reason before refusing
・softening statements with 少し, ちょっと, or でしょうか
・using titles such as さん, 先生, and 様
・avoiding unnecessary pronouns such as あなた
・choosing an appropriate tone and speaking speed
・acknowledging inconvenience or expressing gratitude
Adding です is not a magic spell that makes every message considerate.
Formal Written Japanese Is Not Always Polite Speech
Japanese also distinguishes formal writing style from polite listener-oriented style.
This is an important problem.
⇒ plain style
これは重要な問題です。
This is an important problem.
⇒ polite style addressing the reader/listener
これは重要な問題である。
This is an important problem.
⇒ formal written style, but not listener-politeness
In a polite meeting, use です／ます and appropriate keigo.
Why Plain Forms Appear Inside Polite Sentences
A Japanese sentence may contain plain grammar inside a clause while ending politely.
Tanaka-san wa gakusei da to omoimasu.
I think Mr. Tanaka is a student.
The content before と思います takes the plain form 学生だ. The main verb 思います makes the overall sentence polite to the listener.
学生だと思う。
Plain content + polite main verb
学生だと思います。
The final main predicate usually controls how you address the listener, while embedded clauses often require plain forms.
How Do Japanese Speakers Switch from Polite to Casual?
People do not always announce a clear switch. The change may happen gradually.
どこに住んでいますか。
Where do you live?
Becoming familiar
どこに住んでるんですか。
Where do you live?
⇒ polite ending with conversational contraction
Close relationship
どこに住んでる？
Where do you live?
The other person may repeatedly use plain speech, suggest 敬語じゃなくていいよ (“You don’t need to use keigo”), or the relationship may naturally become close. When uncertain, continuing with polite Japanese is acceptable.
Polite Japanese for Common Situations
Introducing Yourself
Nice to meet you. I’m Alex.
初めまして。ABC社の田中と申します。
Nice to meet you. My name is Tanaka from ABC Company.
⇒ formal business introduction
Asking for Something
Please give me water.
⇒ simple polite request
お水をいただけますか。
Could I have some water?
⇒ more courteous
Asking a Teacher
Teacher, I have a question.
もう一度説明していただけますか。
Could you explain it one more time?
At a Store or Hotel
I have a reservation.
田中という名前で予約しております。
I have a reservation under the name Tanaka.
⇒ more formal and humble
Apologizing
Sorry.
⇒ casual
すみません。
I’m sorry / excuse me.
⇒ standard polite
申し訳ございません。
I am very sorry.
⇒ formal and strong
Ending a Business Message
Thank you / I appreciate your cooperation.
⇒ standard polite
何卒よろしくお願いいたします。
We sincerely appreciate your cooperation.
⇒ formal business style
Japanese Formality in Anime, Manga, and Games
Fiction uses formality levels to build character identity quickly.
明日、暇？
Are you free tomorrow?
Polite classmate
明日、時間ありますか。
Do you have time tomorrow?
Hotel employee
明日はお時間がございますでしょうか。
Would you have time tomorrow?
Samurai-style character
明日は暇でござるか。
Are you free tomorrow?
⇒ intentionally old-fashioned and stylized
For speaking practice, prioritize ordinary です／ます and real-life set phrases.
Common Mistakes with Japanese Formality Levels
Mistake 1: Replacing Every Desu with Da
Na-adjective: 静かです → 静かだ
I-adjective: 高いです → 高い
Verb: 行きます → 行く
Do not say 高いだ or 行くだ.
Mistake 2: Thinking Desu/Masu Is Enough for Every Formal Situation
Standard polite speech is sufficient in many situations, but service and business roles may require respectful and humble verbs as well.
社長が来ます。
The president is coming.
Respectful:
社長がいらっしゃいます。
The president is coming.
Mistake 3: Using Sonkeigo for Your Own Action
○ 私が参ります。
I will go / come.
Mistake 4: Using Kenjougo for the Customer’s Action
Incorrect when the customer is the respected performer.
○ お客様がいらっしゃいます。
The customer is coming.
Mistake 5: Respectfully Elevating Your Own Personal Details
○ 私の名前はアレックスです。
My name is Alex.
○ アレックスと申します。
My name is Alex.
⇒ humble formal introduction
Mistake 6: Believing More Keigo Is Always Better
Overly elaborate language can be difficult to understand or create unnecessary distance. Appropriate language is better than maximum formality.
Mistake 7: Treating Age as the Only Rule
Age matters, but so do role, familiarity, organization, setting, and current conversational purpose.
Mistake 8: Believing Casual Japanese Is Naturally Rude
Plain speech is normal and warm among close people. It becomes inappropriate only when it conflicts with the relationship or situation.
Mistake 9: Believing Polite Japanese Cannot Express Anger
Formality shows the social frame; tone and intention still determine the emotional message.
A Practical Learning Order for Polite Japanese
Learn polite present, past, negative, and question forms.
Step 2: Learn the plain forms
Understand noun, na-adjective, i-adjective, and verb patterns.
Step 3: Learn common polite requests
ください, お願いします, ～てもいいですか, ～ていただけますか.
Step 4: Learn the viewpoint rule
Their action ⇒ sonkeigo
My side’s action ⇒ kenjougo
Step 5: Memorize frequent keigo verbs
いらっしゃる, おっしゃる, 伺う, 申す, いたす, 拝見する.
Step 6: Learn fixed service and business phrases
申し訳ございません, 少々お待ちください, ご確認ください.
Step 7: Study uchi/soto and workplace conventions
Do this after the basic grammar feels stable.
That foundation is more valuable than memorizing dozens of honorific verbs without knowing how to build a normal sentence.
Natural Example Sentences by Formality Level
Talking About Yourself
大学生だ。
I’m a university student.
Polite:
大学生です。
I’m a university student.
Formal introduction:
東京大学の学生でございます。
I am a student at the University of Tokyo.
Asking Someone’s Name
名前は？
What’s your name?
Polite:
お名前は何ですか。
What is your name?
More courteous:
お名前を伺ってもよろしいでしょうか。
May I ask your name?
Asking Someone to Wait
ちょっと待って。
Wait a moment.
Polite:
少し待ってください。
Please wait a moment.
Customer service:
少々お待ちくださいませ。
Please wait a moment.
Talking About Someone Eating
先生はもう食べた。
The teacher already ate.
⇒ grammatically plain; appropriateness depends on the relationship
Polite:
先生はもう食べました。
The teacher already ate.
Respectful:
先生はもう召し上がりました。
The teacher already ate.
Offering to Explain
私が説明する。
I’ll explain.
Polite:
私が説明します。
I will explain.
Humble:
私がご説明いたします。
I will explain.
FAQ About Japanese Formality Levels
How many formality levels are there in Japanese?
There is no single official numbered ladder for every situation. Beginners usually distinguish plain style, polite です／ます style, and keigo. Keigo itself contains respectful, humble, polite, and beautifying categories.
What is the safest Japanese form for beginners?
Standard です／ます polite Japanese is the safest general choice with unfamiliar people. It is useful before learning advanced keigo.
What is the difference between polite Japanese and keigo?
Polite Japanese often refers to です／ます style. Keigo is broader and includes sonkeigo, kenjougo, teineigo, teichougo, and bikago.
What is the difference between sonkeigo and kenjougo?
Sonkeigo respectfully describes the action of the person being honored. Kenjougo humbly describes an action by the speaker or the speaker’s group.
Are desu and masu keigo?
Yes. They belong to teineigo, the polite-language category of keigo.
Is da rude in Japanese?
No. だ is a normal plain copular form. It may sound inappropriate if used in a setting where polite speech is expected.
Is gozaimasu more polite than desu?
でございます is more formal than です. However, it is not automatically more natural and is mainly used in formal, service, business, or ceremonial settings.
Why do Japanese add o before words?
お and ご may express respect, humility, beautification, or a conventional polite vocabulary form, as in お名前, ご説明, お茶, and お金.
When can I switch from desu/masu to casual Japanese?
The switch depends on mutual familiarity, age, role, and the established relationship. You can wait until the other person repeatedly uses casual speech or explicitly suggests dropping keigo.
Do I need advanced keigo as a tourist?
No. Greetings, thanks, simple requests, and です／ます forms are enough for most travel situations. Recognizing common service keigo will make listening easier.
Do native Japanese speakers make keigo mistakes?
Yes. Keigo involves viewpoint, relationships, grammar, and workplace conventions, so native speakers also study it and sometimes make mistakes.
Does formal Japanese always sound respectful?
No. A formal sentence can sound cold, sarcastic, angry, or distant depending on tone and context. Respect depends on the whole interaction.
What is uchi and soto in Japanese politeness?
Uchi means your inside group, while soto means the outside group. In business, you generally avoid elevating your own company members when speaking to a client.
What is the difference between polite desu/masu style and de aru style?
です／ます politely addresses a listener or reader. である is a formal plain writing style commonly used in academic and objective prose, but it is not listener-oriented polite speech.
Summary: Japanese Formality Levels and Polite Japanese
だ, 行く, 高い, 静かだ
Used in close relationships, private thought, and plain-style writing.
● Polite style
です and ます
The safest general level for beginners and unfamiliar relationships.
● Sonkeigo
Respectfully raises the action or state of another person.
● Kenjougo
Humbly presents an action by you or your group.
● Gozaimasu
A highly polite form related to あります; でございます is more formal than です.
● O and go prefixes
They can show respect, humility, refinement, or form a conventional word.
● The key question
Who is listening, who performs the action, and what relationship and setting are involved?
● Beginner priority
Master です／ます first, then plain forms, then frequent keigo expressions.
Choose language that fits the listener, performer, relationship, and situation. Appropriate distance—not maximum complexity—is the real goal.
Detailed Guides in This Series
Learn whether ございます can stand alone and how it differs from あります and です.
What Does Keigo Mean? Sonkeigo and Kenjougo Explained
Learn the three traditional and five modern keigo categories and the most important special verbs.
Desu vs Da: When Should You Use Da in Japanese?
Learn plain vs polite grammar for nouns, adjectives, verbs, questions, and embedded clauses.
Why Do Japanese Add O Before Words?
Learn respectful, humble, beautifying, and conventional uses in words such as お茶 and お金.
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: Keigo Guidelines and Learning Resources
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: The Role and Social Function of Keigo
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: The Five Categories of Keigo
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: Sonkeigo, Kenjougo, O/Go Prefixes, and Common Problems
- The Japan Foundation, Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan—Grammar Notes
- The Japan Foundation: Plain Forms and Desu/Masu Forms