9.9 Respectful Prefix
Language & Culture Lessons
O genki desu ka?
The simplest form of formal Japanese language, or keigo is simply adding O or Go.
Even if you can’t get familiar with the polite form of speech, using O or Go is enough to start speaking politely! In daily
conversations, you will hear O this Go that.
In a simple sentence, such as "Let me confirm your food order" – Okyakusama no Oshokuji no GOch ū mon o GOkakunin
shimasu . I have said it four times!
"Honorable" may be the perfect translation for O and Go, but to say “Honorable customer, allow me to confirm your
honorable food order” – just sounds unnatural.
So you wonder why do the Japanese say O or Go before every word?
Well, good news - it’s not every word! O or Go isn't attached to all words. If you are a beginner, it might be better not to
overuse them.
Language Lesson
お　ご　御 - respectful prefix - polite marker
a) Why do the Japanese people place Go or O before words?
Here’s the answer...
• To be polite – can't be used for yourself or family member
• To beautify the words
• If you're a woman, to soften expressions
• Often used when speaking to a child to soften tone of voice
b) How to distinguish Go from O
Sorry! there are no easy rules...but let me introduce some general usages of O and Go.
O is for frequently used with words related to everyday life like “rice” Okome and “money” Okane– that is, words
with short syllables.
Also, generally, O is placed before words with Japanese pronunciations or Kun readings which are native Japanese
words "fitted" to a Kanji.
Kanji
Japanese
Romaji
pronunciation (Kunreading)
With prefix "O"
English Translation
名前
なまえ
Namae
Onamae
Name
酒
さけ
Sake
Osake
Sake (Japanese wine)
⿂
さかな
Sakana
Osakana
Fish
薬
くすり
Kusuri
Okusuri
Medicine
箸
はし
Hashi
Ohashi
Chopsticks
Onamae or "honorable name" is used in Lesson 8.4 "Cancelling a Hotel Reservation" of the Audio Series, when Taro
asks for Yoshiko’s name – he adds the prefix O to honor her as a customer. He would never use O- in speaking of his
own name
おきゃさま、おなまえ　は？
Literally: "Honorable guest, as for your honourable
name?"
Okyakusama, onamae wa? Meaning: "Sir, may I ask your
name?"
GO is generally used for words related to “action” or “activity”, such as Gokakunin "confirmation."
Typically, Go is placed before words with a Chinese pronunciation or On reading - These are pronunciations which
came from those used in China when Kanji was first introduced to Japan– the Japanese people adapted these Chinese
sounds to their own speech.
Kanji
Chinese
Pronunciation (Onreading)
Romaji
With prefix "GO"
English translation
確認
かくにん
Kaku+Nin
Gokakunin
Confirmation
紹介
しょうかい
Sh ō+Kai
Gosh ōkai
Introduction
連絡
れんらく
Ren+Raku
Gorenraku
Contact
説明
せつめい
Setsu+Mē
Gosetsumē
Explanation
住所
じゅうしょ
Jyū+Sho
Gojyūsho
Address
本⼈
ほんにん
Hon+Nin
Gohonnin
Yourself
As mentioned earlier, using O or Go is not obligatory, but there are some words that sound harsh without them.
For example: "money" kane is "honorable" whether it’s yours or someone else’s.
Which words use the obligatory O?
おちゃ
Ocha
Japanese tea
おかね
Okane
money
おみやげ
Omiyage
souvenir
...are among them. Listen carefully to when and how native speakers use them.
Some words cannot be made into honorific forms by adding O or Go. There are special terms for the following words:
いえ　ie
→
おたく
otaku
Your [honorable]
house
こども
kodomo
→
おこさん
okosan
Your [honorable]
child
だれ
dare
→
どなた·どちらさま
donata /
dochirasama
Who?
どこ
doko
→
どちら
dochira
Where?
どう
dō
→
いかが
ikaga
How?
c) O before Adjectives
O is also used before i-adjectives and na-adjectives – mostly used by older Japanese women to soften their
expressions.
O + i-adjective
⾼い
たかい
takai
→
おたかい
otakai
expensive
安い
やすい
yasui
→
おやすい
oyasui
cheap
早い
はやい
hayai
→
おはやい
ohayai
fast, quick
暑い
あつい
atsui
→
おあつい
oatsui
hot
寒い
さむい
samui
→
おさむい
osamui
cold
元気
げんき
genki
→
おげんき
ogenki
cheerful
好き
すき
suki
→
おすき
osuki
like
上⼿
じょうず
jyōzu
→
おじょうず
ojyōzu
be good at
静か
しずか
shizuka
→
おしずか
oshizuka
quiet
O + na-adjective
In general, Japanese women tend to use more polite forms of speech than men. While a man might say Shokuji o
taberu "I eat a meal", a woman is expected to place the honorific O to shokuji, so, she would say, Oshokuji o taberu .
And, where a man is likely to ask for Mizu or "water" in a restaurant, a woman would ask for Omizu .
Culture
Tatamae and Honne
There is an expected behavior one must exercise depending on the specific role, social status or position in a specific
group (corporation, company). Such as showing politeness to avoid conflict to maintain a harmonious atmosphere.
This is called Tatemae and it is what prevents you from saying "no" directly, even if you are firm on declining.
Tatemae - 建前 - "facade" - social mask - face that is shown in public.
Honne - 本⾳ - "true sound" - true feelings, desires, and opinions.
Tatamae expresses "the public persona" while Honne expresses "real feelings."
These are nouns that can’t be translated into English!
On the other hand, Honne is the "naked" face that is often discouraged in public – especially at work and business
dealings. It is only shown between close friends (or when one is drunk!)
In Japanese society, tatemae reigns over honne - You don’t expose your true self to others; even to your best friend or
family member. You gaman or "bite back" the real you, and always make harmony the priority.
After all, the ultimate goal is to maintain harmony at all times. So opinions are rarely expressed, emotions are hidden,
and public disagreements are rarely heard of.
It seems that in Japan, everyone knows everyone else is putting on a show or tatemae– but even so, harmony is
maintained.
You may ask, isn’t tatemae a lie? Yes and no. It is a "white lie."
It’s social harmony prevailing over personal reality – though it's not a small white lie – it's an entire way of being in
certain situations – in another words... it's favouring peaceful and harmonious relationships over personal, sticky,
unwanted ones.
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