謙譲語 II and Written Business Keigo

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use advanced humble forms (謙譲語 II kenjōgo II) and written business keigo conventions in formal documents, such as emails, reports, and proposals.謙譲語

In Japanese business writing, two main humble forms exist:

• 謙譲語 I (kenjōgo I): The speaker humbles their own actions toward the listener (e.g., お～する / ご～する).謙譲語
• 謙譲語 II (kenjōgo II): Also called teichōgo (丁重語), this form humbles the speaker’s entire statement to show respect to the listener or reader, even when no direct action is involved. It is essential in written keigo (formal business language).謙譲語丁重

謙譲語 II uses special verbs like 参る (まいる mairu), 申す (もうす mōsu), and おる (oru) to replace standard verbs in writing. These forms create a polite, distant, and respectful tone suitable for documents.謙譲語参申

1. Key 謙譲語 II Verbs

Replace these common verbs with their humble equivalents in formal writing:

Note: 参る covers both "go" and "come" in humble form.参

2. Sentence Structure in Written Keigo

In formal documents, use 謙譲語 II with the polite ending ます (-masu) or です (desu). The pattern is:謙譲語

• Subject (company/self) + は + [謙譲語 II verb] + ます/です謙譲語

Example:

• 私は明日東京に参ります。
  Watashi wa ashita Tōkyō ni mairimasu.
  "I will go to Tokyo tomorrow."私明日東京参

  私明日東京参

• その件については、存じております。
  Sono ken ni tsuite wa, zonjite orimasu.
  "Regarding that matter, I am aware (of it)."件存

  件存

3. Written Keigo Conventions

For business documents (e.g., emails, reports), use these patterns:

• Opening: 拝啓 (はいけい haikei) = "Dear" (formal)拝啓
• Closing: 敬具 (けいぐ keigu) = "Sincerely"敬具
• Self-reference: 弊社 (へいしゃ heisha) = "our company" (humble)弊社
• Recipient reference: 貴社 (きしゃ kisha) = "your company" (respectful)貴社

Example sentence in a document:

• 弊社は来月の会議に参ります。
  Heisha wa raigetsu no kaigi ni mairimasu.
  "Our company will attend the meeting next month."弊社来月会議

1. 謙譲語 II for "to say"謙譲語

   • 部長にそう申しました。
     Buchō ni sō mōshimashita.
     "I said so to the department manager."部長申
   謙譲語部長申

2. 謙譲語 II for "to be"謙譲語

   • 資料は机の上にございます。（Note: ございます is a humble/formal version of ある）
     Shiryō wa tsukue no ue ni gozaimasu.
     "The documents are on the desk."資料机上
   謙譲語資料机

3. 謙譲語 II for "to know"謙譲語

   • その情報は存じておりません。
     Sono jōhō wa zonjite orimasen.
     "I do not know that information."情報存
   謙譲語情報存

4. Written keigo with 参る参

   • 明日、貴社に参ります。
     Ashita, kisha ni mairimasu.
     "I will come to your company tomorrow."明日貴社参
   参明日貴社

Mixing 謙譲語 I and 謙譲語 II incorrectly.謙譲語

• ❌ 私は資料をお送りして参ります。
  (This mixes 謙譲語 I o-okuri shite with 謙譲語 II mairimasu awkwardly.)私資料送参謙

  私資料送参謙

• ✅ 私は資料をお送りいたします。
  (Use 謙譲語 I itasu for the action of sending.)私資料送謙譲

  私資料送謙譲

• ✅ 私は資料を持って参ります。
  (Use 謙譲語 II mairimasu for the movement of coming.)私資料持参謙

  私資料持参謙

Rule: Use 謙譲語 II for verbs of existence, movement, or stating facts—not for specific actions you perform for someone (those use 謙譲語 I).謙譲語

Fill in the blanks with the correct 謙譲語 II form.謙譲語

1. 私は来週の会議に＿＿＿＿（行く → humble form）。
   Watashi wa raishū no kaigi ni ______.
   → Answer: 参ります (mairimasu)私来週会議行

   私来週会議行

2. その件は＿＿＿＿（知っている → humble form）。
   Sono ken wa ______.
   → Answer: 存じております (zonjite orimasu)件知存

   件知存

3. 部長にそう＿＿＿＿（言う → humble form）。
   Buchō ni sō ______.
   → Answer: 申しました (mōshimashita)部長言申

   部長言申

Try writing one sentence using 謙譲語 II in a business context (e.g., "I will be at the office tomorrow").謙譲語

You now know:

• 謙譲語 II verbs: 参る, 申す, おる, 存じる謙譲語参申存
• How to use them in formal written sentences with ます/です
• Key written keigo vocabulary: 弊社, 貴社, 拝啓, 敬具弊社貴拝啓敬
• The difference between 謙譲語 I (actions for others) and 謙譲語 II (general humble statements)謙譲語

Next step: Practice writing a short formal business email using 謙譲語 II and written keigo conventions. For example, write an email to a client confirming a meeting time. Use 参る, 申す, and 存じる appropriately.謙譲語参申存