What Is Keigo? The 5 Official Types of Polite Japanese

Imagine your first day working in Japan. Your boss greets you and you want to answer politely—but which words are right? Are です and ます enough? Is there something more formal? And why did a colleague sound different when speaking to a customer?

The answer is one word: Keigo (敬語けいご).

Keigo とは？ (What Is Keigo?)

敬語けいご is made of two characters: 敬けい (respect) and 語ご (language). Keigo is honorific language—a Japanese system for showing respect, humbling yourself, or softening speech.

In the 敬語けいごの指針ししん (Keigo Guidelines, 2007), the Japanese government notes that Keigo is used to:

• Show respect (敬うやまい) toward others
• Humble yourself (へりくだり) as courtesy
• Match formal or informal situations

💡 From the 敬語けいごの指針ししん: Keigo is not a tool to rank people “above” or “below.” In modern society it rests on mutual respect (相互尊重そうごそんちょう)—honoring each person’s role and position.

Where This Article Fits in the 5-Category System

This article surveys the full five-category system briefly. Each category has its own deep-dive article.

Once 3, Now 5: What Changed?

Older textbooks often list three types: 尊敬語そんけいご, 謙譲語けんじょうご, and 丁寧語ていねいご.

The problem? Two distinctions were mixed that should be separate:

Problem 1: 謙譲語けんじょうご Is Really Two Kinds

In the old system, 伺うかがう (visit/ask) and 参まいる (go) were both called “Kenjougo,” but they work very differently:

Problem 2: 美化語びかご Is Not 丁寧語ていねいご

お酒さけ (sake), お茶ちゃ (tea), and お料理りょうり (dishes) are not “polite to the listener” (Teineigo). They are softened words (Bikago)—more elegant speech, not listener-directed politeness.

That is why in 2007 the 文化審議会ぶんかしんぎかい split the old system into five official categories.

The 5 Keigo Categories: Short Guide

① 尊敬語そんけいご (Sonkeigo) — Elevate Others

Used to raise people you respect (boss, customer, teacher). You “lift” them higher.

Example 1: Eat 先生せんせいが召めし上あがる。 Sensei ga meshiagaru. (The teacher) eats (honorific).

📖 Learn more about Sonkeigo →

② 謙譲語けんじょうごI (Kenjougo I) — Humble Yourself Toward Someone

Used when your action is directed at a respected person. You lower yourself to raise them.

Example 2: Visit 先生せんせいのお宅たくに伺います。 Sensei no otaku ni ukagaimasu. (I) visit the teacher’s home.

📖 Learn more about Kenjougo I →

③ 謙譲語けんじょうごII / 丁重語ていちょうご (Kenjougo II) — Polite Self-Talk

Used to describe your own actions politely to the listener. No respected target is required.

Example 3: Go 明日あした、東京とうきょうに参ります。 Ashita, Toukyou ni mairimasu. Tomorrow (I) go to Tokyo.

📖 Learn more about Kenjougo II →

④ 丁寧語ていねいご (Teineigo) — Everyday Polite Speech

The most basic, most common Keigo: です and ます. General politeness toward the listener.

Example 4: Go (basic polite) 学校がっこうに行いきます。 Gakkou ni ikimasu. (I) go to school (polite form).

📖 Learn more about Teineigo →

⑤ 美化語びかご (Bikago) — Soften Words

Add お or ご to nouns to sound softer and more elegant. Meaning does not change.

Example 5: Tea お茶ちゃはいかがですか。 Ocha wa ikaga desu ka. Would you like tea (softened form)?

📖 Learn more about Bikago →

When Do You Need Keigo?

Not every situation needs Keigo. A simple guide:

💡 Beginner tip: If you are unsure, start with Teineigo (です/ます). It is a safe zone—polite without overdoing it.

A 6-Week Keigo Roadmap (Without Overwhelm)

Keigo feels hard when people try to learn everything at once. Fatigue, forgetting, and mix-ups follow. A better plan is step-by-step by communication role.

Why this order works

1. Teineigo builds a polite rhythm first so sentences already feel safe.
2. Bikago trains your ear for formal register in services.
3. Sonkeigo and Kenjougo come after foundations, so they mix less often.
4. Kenjougo I and II are sequential so “action target” stays clear.

With 20–30 minutes a day, progress often shows within 4–6 weeks.

Choosing a Category in 10 Seconds

In conversation you cannot pause long. Use three quick questions:

1. Who am I talking about?
   If boss/customer/teacher, Sonkeigo is likely.

2. Is my action directed at a respected person?
   If yes, use Kenjougo I.

3. Do I only want general politeness?
   Use Teineigo; add Kenjougo II when business needs more formality.

Quick office examples

Situation A: “The director arrives at 10.”
Use Sonkeigo: 社長しゃちょうは10時じにいらっしゃいます。
Shachou wa juu-ji ni irasshaimasu.
The director will come at 10.

Situation B: “I will send documents to the client.”
Use Kenjougo I: 資料しりょうをお客様きゃくさまにお送りいたします。
Shiryou o okyakusama ni ookuri itashimasu.
I will send the documents to the client.

Situation C: “I have arrived at the office.”
Use Kenjougo II: ただいま会社かいしゃに参りました。
Tadaima kaisha ni mairimashita.
I just arrived at the office.

Beginner Checklist Before Advanced Articles

Before business and JLPT material, make sure you can:

• Explain Sonkeigo, Kenjougo I, and Kenjougo II in your own words.
• Name at least five special Sonkeigo verbs without notes.
• Turn 10 casual sentences into Teineigo quickly.
• Tell when “o/go + noun” is Bikago, not Sonkeigo.
• Separate “action toward a respected person” from “polite self-action.”

If this is still shaky, review the basics first. That beats rushing into N2/N1 material.

Common Myths About Keigo

Many Indonesian learners carry myths about Keigo. Here are the facts:

❌ “Keigo is only for talking to the boss”

Fact: Keigo is also used with older people, customers, teachers, and even strangers. Even when speaking about yourself (Kenjougo II), Keigo can still be required.

❌ “Japanese people always use Keigo”

Fact: Japanese people do not use Keigo with close friends or family. With friends it can sound distant or odd.

❌ “Keigo is only three types”

Fact: Since 2007 the official standard uses five categories. The three-type system is outdated and causes mix-ups.

New Vocabulary

Conclusion

Key points from this article:

1. Keigo (敬語けいご) is Japanese polite language for respect, humility, or softer speech.
2. Since 2007 the official standard uses five categories: 尊敬語そんけいご, 謙譲語けんじょうごI, 謙譲語けんじょうごII, 丁寧語ていねいご, and 美化語びかご.
3. The main change from the old system is splitting Kenjougo (I = toward a respected person, II = polite self-reference).
4. Start with Teineigo (です/ます) as your foundation; learn the others one by one.

Foundation navigation:

• Back: Keigo Hub
• Next: Teineigo (丁寧語)

Also read:

• Teineigo (丁寧語): Core Polite Japanese You Need First
• Bikago (美化語): Soften Japanese with お and ご
• Complete Keigo Guide

Next, study Teineigo (丁寧語ていねいご)—the basic polite language that underpins the whole Keigo system.