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Japanese Formality Levels

敬語と丁寧語ガイド

Japanese has distinct formality levels. Using the wrong one can be awkward - too formal sounds cold, too casual sounds rude. Here's how to get it right.

The Four Levels

1. 敬語 Keigo (Honorific/Humble)

FORMAL

Use with: Clients, superiors, strangers in service situations

Features: Special verb forms, humble/honorific prefixes

おっしゃる通りでございます

ossharu toori de gozaimasu

"It is as you say" (very humble)

2. 丁寧語 Teineigo (Polite)

POLITE

Use with: Colleagues, acquaintances, shop staff (as customer)

Features: ～です/～ます endings

これは美味しいです

kore wa oishii desu

"This is delicious"

3. 普通形 Futsuu-kei (Plain/Dictionary)

CASUAL

Use with: Friends, same-age colleagues, family

Features: Dictionary form verbs, だ instead of です

これ美味しい

kore oishii

"This is good" (casual)

4. タメ口 Tameguchi (Rough/Intimate)

ROUGH

Use with: Very close friends, children (from adult)

Features: Shortened forms, masculine/feminine endings

うまっ！

uma!

"So good!" (very casual)

Quick Decision Guide

SituationLevelExample
Job interviewKeigoおっしゃる通りです
Email to clientKeigoご確認いただけますでしょうか
Talking to bossTeineigo/Keigoわかりました
Office colleagueTeineigo今日暑いですね
Ordering at restaurantTeineigoこれをください
Friend from workCasual今日暑いね
Close friendCasual/Rough暑っ！

Common Verbs Across Levels

Meaning Keigo (する side) Teineigo Casual
To say おっしゃる / 申す 言います 言う
To go いらっしゃる / 参る 行きます 行く
To eat 召し上がる / いただく 食べます 食べる
To see ご覧になる / 拝見する 見ます 見る
To know ご存知 / 存じる 知っています 知ってる

Gender Differences

Japanese has traditionally gendered speech patterns, though this is evolving:

Traditionally Masculine

  • Sentence-ending particles: ぞ (zo), ぜ (ze), だ (da)
  • 俺 (ore) for "I" - rough
  • 僕 (boku) for "I" - standard male
  • うまい (umai) for "delicious"

Traditionally Feminine

  • Sentence-ending particles: わ (wa), の (no), かしら (kashira)
  • 私 (watashi/atashi) for "I"
  • 美味しい (oishii) for "delicious"
  • Rising intonation on questions
Modern reality: These patterns are becoming less strict. Many young women use boku, many young men drop masculine particles. Observe your actual environment rather than textbooks.

Age Hierarchy

Senpai/Kouhai (先輩/後輩) relationships affect speech:

  • To seniors: Use teineigo or keigo
  • To juniors: Can use casual, but don't be rude
  • Same age: Match what they use

In Osaka, age hierarchies are often more relaxed than Tokyo, but still present in workplaces.

Osaka Exception

Osaka people are generally more relaxed about formality than Tokyo. You might experience:

  • Shop staff using casual Kansai-ben with customers
  • Quicker transition to casual speech with new acquaintances
  • More humor and playfulness even in formal settings

But keigo is still expected in business contexts and with clear hierarchies.