Keigo Practice: 25 Conversion & Situational Dialog Questions (5 Categories)
Welcome to keigo practice! This page has 25 questions testing all five official keigo categories from 敬語の指針. Items are split into five sections, each testing a different skill — from verb conversion to situational analysis. Bonus: three extra N1-level items if you want a harder challenge!
How to work: Answer each item before opening the key. Track your score per section to see what needs work. No time limit — focus on understanding, not speed. Each answer includes why it is correct. You can learn from every item. Bookmark this page and redo it after one week to measure progress.
Difficulty: Sections A–C match JLPT N3, Section D matches JLPT N2, and Section E matches JLPT N2–N1. If you are new to keigo, it is fine if Section E still feels hard — focus on A–C first.
After this practice, you will be able to:
- Convert plain verbs into correct sonkeigo, KI, and KII forms
- Tell 謙譲語I from 謙譲語II by whether a 向かう先 is present
- Identify the keigo category of a given word or phrase
- Choose the right keigo from situation and speaker relationships
Quick Reference: KI vs KII Key
Before you start, make sure you know the basic difference between 謙譲語I and 謙譲語II. This area causes the most mistakes:
| Question | KI | KII |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a 向かう先? | ✅ Yes (a respected person) | ❌ No |
| Function | Lower yourself toward a specific person | Polite toward the listener |
| Example: 行く | 伺う (to a teacher’s home → teacher = 向かう先) | 参る (to the station → not a person) |
| Example: 言う | 申し上げる (to a superior) | 申す (talking about yourself) |
Quick trick: On each item, ask: “Is there a respected person as the recipient or goal of my action?” If yes → KI. If no (you only want to sound polite) → KII.
Trap Pairs That Often Appear on the JLPT
These verb pairs often confuse learners because KI and KII forms differ:
| Verb | KI (has 向かう先) | KII (none) |
|---|---|---|
| 行く / 来る | 伺う | 参る |
| 言う | 申し上げる | 申す |
| いる | ❌ (no KI for いる) | おる |
| する | お〜する | いたす |
| 食べる / 飲む | いただく (from someone) | ❌ (no special KII) |
| 知る | ❌ (no KI for 知る) | 存じる |
Remember: not every verb has both categories. Some are KI-only, some KII-only. That is why memorization still matters alongside concepts.
Section A: Convert to 尊敬語 (5 Items)
Change the verb in parentheses into correct 尊敬語. Remember: 尊敬語 raises a respected person’s action (boss, client, teacher).
A1. 先生が本を___。 (読む)
Answer
お読みになる — Pattern お〜になる. Also possible: 読まれる (passive form as lighter sonkeigo).
A2. 社長はもう___か。 (帰る)
Answer
お帰りになった — Pattern お〜になる. There is no special sonkeigo for 帰る.
A3. お客さまが___。 (来る)
Answer
いらっしゃった / お見えになった — Special sonkeigo for 来る. いらっしゃる is most common.
A4. 部長は何を___か。 (食べる)
Answer
召し上がる — Special sonkeigo for 食べる and 飲む.
A5. この資料を___ましたか。 (見る)
Answer
ご覧になり — Special sonkeigo for 見る.
Section B: Convert to 謙譲語I (5 Items)
Change the verb into 謙譲語I. Remember: KI is used when your action targets a respected person (there is a 向かう先).
B1. 先生に___。(聞く)
Answer
お伺いする / 伺う — Special KI for 聞く. 向かう先 = 先生.
B2. お客さまにメールを___。 (送る)
Answer
お送りする — Pattern お〜する. 向かう先 = お客さま.
B3. 部長にプレゼントを___。 (あげる)
Answer
差し上げる — あげる special KI. 向かう先 = 部長.
B4. 先生のお宅に___。 (行く)
Answer
伺う — 行く special KI. 向かう先 = 先生.
B5. 社長に報告書を___。 (見せる)
Answer
お見せする / ご覧に入れる — 見せる KI. 向かう先 = 社長.
Section C: Convert to 謙譲語II / 丁重語 (5 Items)
Change the verb into 謙譲語II. Remember: KII is for politely describing your own action to the listener. There is no 向かう先 — only the listener (相手).
C1. 駅まで歩いて___。 (行く)
Answer
参りました — Special KII for 行く. No 向かう先 (a station is not a respected person).
C2. 私は田中と___。 (言う, introduce your name)
Answer
申します — Special KII for 言う. Introduce yourself politely.
C3. 昨日、映画を___。 (見る, talking about your own activity)
Answer
This does not need keigo — describing a personal activity (watching a movie) does not require KII unless you want to sound very formal. If you want high formality: 拝見いたしました. But note: 拝見 is usually KI (there is a 向かう先). Without extra context, the best answer is 見ました (teineigo only).
C4. こちらに___ので。 (いる, “I am here”)
Answer
おります — Special KII for いる. Politely describe your own presence.
C5. この件は私が___。 (する, “I will do it”)
Answer
いたします — Special KII for する. Politely state your own action.
Section D: Identify the Keigo Category (5 Items)
Name the keigo category of each word or phrase. Choose from: 尊敬語 / 謙譲語I / 謙譲語II / 丁寧語 / 美化語.
D1. いらっしゃる
Answer
尊敬語 — Raises another person’s action (sonkeigo of 行く/来る/いる).
D2. お茶
Answer
美化語 — お is added to polish a word, not to honor a specific person. Differs from お名前, which can become sonkeigo depending on context.
D3. 申す
Answer
謙譲語II (丁重語) — KII for 言う. Used to state your own action politely, without a 向かう先.
D4. 申し上げる
Answer
謙譲語I — KI for 言う. Differs from 申す (KII) — there is a 向かう先 (respected person as speech recipient). Items D3 and D4 are a pair — be sure you see the difference.
D5. ございます
Answer
丁寧語 — A very polite form of あります. Not sonkeigo or kenjougo — it only makes the sentence polite toward the listener. Learners often mislabel it as kenjougo.
Section E: Choose the Right Keigo (5 Items)
Read each situation and choose the most appropriate keigo. Watch who speaks to whom and their relationship. This section tests the analysis skill needed for JLPT N2 and N1.
E1. You (staff) need to tell a calling client that your boss (山田部長) is away. Which is correct?
a) 山田部長はいらっしゃいません b) 山田は只今席を外しております c) 山田さんは出かけています
Answer
b) — Uchi-soto rule: toward a client (外), your boss is 内. So: no title (山田) + KII (おる). Option (a) is wrong because it uses sonkeigo (いらっしゃる) for an in-group person — a very common mistake. Option (c) is too casual and uses -san for an in-group person.
E2. You meet your teacher on the street. You want to say “I already read the book you wrote.” Which is correct?
a) 先生のご本を読みました b) 先生のご著書を拝読いたしました c) 先生の本を読ませていただきました
Answer
b) — 拝読 (ultraformal KI) + いたす (KII) = correct 敬語連結. ご著書 honors the teacher’s work. Option (a) is less formal — plain teineigo. Option (c) uses させていただく poorly because it fails both conditions: no “permission” to read a publicly sold book, and no direct “benefit” from the teacher.
E3. In a meeting, you want to say “I will explain.” A superior is present as a participant. Which is correct?
a) 説明します b) ご説明いたします c) ご説明になります
Answer
b) — ご〜いたす = KI+KII hybrid (敬語連結). Your action (explaining) targets meeting participants (向かう先). Option (a) is not polite enough for a formal meeting. Option (c) is sonkeigo — as if someone else is explaining. That direction error is fatal.
E4. You want to offer tea to a client: “Would you like tea?” Which is correct?
a) お茶をお飲みになりますか b) お茶を召し上がりますか c) お茶を飲みますか
Answer
b) — 召し上がる is special sonkeigo for 食べる/飲む, and is considered the most polite. Option (a) お飲みになる is also grammatically fine but a bit less formal than the special verb. Option (c) is only teineigo — not polite enough for a client.
E5. You want to tell a client: “I will visit you tomorrow.” Which is correct?
a) 明日、伺います b) 明日、参ります c) 明日、行きます
Answer
a) — 伺う = KI (action targets the client as 向かう先). Option (b) 参る = KII (no specific 向かう先 — only polite self-report). Here, because the client is the target, 伺う is better. Option (c) is only teineigo — not polite enough for a client.
Bonus: 3 Extra Challenges (N1 Level)
If you finished the 25 items above with confidence, try these 3 bonus items. They test N1-level keigo — deeper analysis and “gray area” cases that often appear on the exam.
Bonus 1. Which one is 二重敬語 (double keigo)?
a) お召し上がりになる b) お読みになっていらっしゃる c) ご説明いたします
Answer
a) — 召し上がる is already sonkeigo; adding お〜になる means sonkeigo on top of sonkeigo → 二重敬語. Note: this form is already an accepted exception (習慣として定着) per 敬語の指針, and is common in restaurants and hotels. Technically double keigo, but usage is not treated as wrong. Option (b) is valid 敬語連結: お読みになる (sonkeigo) + いらっしゃる (another sonkeigo for いる) — two different verbs, each with its own sonkeigo. Option (c) is a valid KI+KII hybrid.
Bonus 2. Is this use of させていただく appropriate? “資料をコピーさせていただきます” (copying documents freely available in the office).
Answer
Not quite appropriate — させていただく needs two conditions: (1) permission from someone else, (2) benefit from the action. Copying office documents that are already free does not need anyone’s permission. Better: “資料をコピーいたします” (KII alone is polite enough). In everyday Japanese practice, though, this form is common and many people treat it as “good enough” — an example of language evolving beyond the strict 敬語の指針 rules.
Bonus 3. You are on the phone with a client from another company. The client asks whether 佐藤部長 (your boss) can meet tomorrow. How do you say “I will ask Sato”?
Answer
“佐藤に確認いたします” — Uchi-soto: toward a client (外), your boss becomes 内. So: (1) no title (“佐藤” not “佐藤部長”), (2) no sonkeigo for the boss, (3) use KII (いたす) for your own action. Not “佐藤部長にお伺いいたします” — even if 伺う sounds polite, you must not use KI toward an in-group person when speaking to an outside party.
Your Score
Count how many of the 25 items you got right:
| Score | Level | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| 22-25 | 🏆 Keigo Champion! | You are ready for JLPT N2/N1. Continue to Business Dialogs for conversation practice. |
| 17-21 | ✅ Good! | Solid foundation. Review wrong areas with the table below. |
| 12-16 | 📖 Needs Review | Return to foundation articles for weak areas. Focus on Keigo Comparison. |
| 0-11 | 🔄 Reread Basics | Open Introduction to Keigo and relearn the basics before retrying. |
Score Analysis by Section
If your score is low in a section, use this targeted review guide. Master one section before moving on:
| Section | Weak Spot | Articles to Re-Review |
|---|---|---|
| A (尊敬語) | Special sonkeigo verbs not memorized yet | Sonkeigo + Conversion Table |
| B (KI) | Confused about お〜する or KI verbs | Kenjougo I |
| C (KII) | Confused KI vs KII | Kenjougo II + Comparison |
| D (Identify) | Cannot yet tell the five categories apart | Introduction to Keigo |
| E (Situational) | Uchi-soto and context not clear yet | Common Mistakes + Business Dialogs |
New Vocabulary
This practice page introduces important keigo vocabulary. Make sure you also know these words that often appear on the JLPT:
| Kanji-Kana | Romaji | Meaning | Word Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 向かう先 | Mukau saki | Action target/recipient | Keigo term |
| 拝読 | Haidoku | Read (ultraformal KI) | 動詞 |
| 著書 | Chosho | Authored book | 名詞 |
| お宅 | Otaku | Home (respectful) | 名詞 |
| 報告書 | Houkokusho | Written report | 名詞 |
| 存じる | Zonjiru | Know (KII) | 動詞 |
| 差し上げる | Sashiageru | Give (KI) | 動詞 |
| 二重敬語 | Nijuu keigo | Double keigo (wrong) | Keigo term |
| 敬語連結 | Keigo renketsu | Keigo chain (correct) | Keigo term |
| 丁重語 | Teichougo | Another name for KII | Keigo term |
Conclusion
This practice tests your understanding of all five official keigo categories. Key points to master:
- 尊敬語 — raise another person’s action. Memorize special verbs (いらっしゃる, 召し上がる, ご覧になる).
- 謙譲語I — for actions aimed at a respected person. Key: there is a 向かう先.
- 謙譲語II — for politely describing your own action. Key: no 向かう先.
- 丁寧語 — です・ます・ございます. Polite toward the listener.
- 美化語 — お/ご to polish words. Does not honor a specific person.
Study Tips from Your Results
Based on the most common mistake patterns, here is targeted study advice:
-
If you often mix KI ↔ KII: This is the most common problem. Always ask “Is there a respected person as the action target?” List 10 daily sentences and mark each KI or KII. Do this for a week until it becomes instinct.
-
If you often mix sonkeigo ↔ kenjougo: You may still reverse keigo direction. Sonkeigo is always for others, kenjougo always for yourself. Picture arrows: sonkeigo ↑ (raise others), kenjougo ↓ (lower yourself).
-
If you often miss situational items: You need more real dialog exposure. Watch Japanese business dramas (半沢直樹 is highly recommended) and notice keigo in office scenes. Also read 5 Business Keigo Dialogs on this site.
If your score is not yet satisfying, do not worry! Keigo is one of the hardest parts of Japanese — even Japanese speakers sometimes misuse it. The keys are consistent practice and ongoing exposure to keigo in real contexts. Retry this practice after reviewing weak areas — you will be surprised how much your score improves!
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