尊敬語（そんけいご、sonkeigo）
- respectful language

尊敬語 (そんけいご, *sonkeigo*) refers to honorific language in Japanese. It's a form of polite speech used to show respect to someone, particularly towards the person you are speaking about. This is achieved through specific verb conjugations, vocabulary choices, and sentence structures. The main purpose of 尊敬語 is to elevate the status of the subject of the sentence or the person being discussed. It is one of the three main types of polite speech in Japanese, alongside 謙譲語 (*kenjougo*, humble language) and 丁寧語 (*teineigo*, polite language).

⚫︎ 先生はもうお帰りになりました。 Translation: The teacher has already gone home. ⚫︎ 社長は会議にご出席されます。 Translation: The president will attend the meeting. ⚫︎ お客様がお待ちです。 Translation: The customer is waiting.

⚫︎ 尊敬語 is used primarily when referring to individuals of higher social status than yourself, such as: ⚫︎ Teachers ⚫︎ Bosses/Superiors ⚫︎ Customers ⚫︎ Elderly individuals ⚫︎ People you don't know well. ⚫︎ It’s also used when discussing the actions of people with high social standing in a conversation. ⚫︎ To use 尊敬語, you typically: ⚫︎ Use special verb conjugations (e.g., 食べます becomes 召し上がります - *meshiagarimasu*). ⚫︎ Use specific vocabulary (e.g., 見る - *miru* (to see) becomes ご覧になる - *goran ni naru*). ⚫︎ Employ honorific prefixes (e.g., お電話 - *o-denwa* (telephone)). ⚫︎ Use certain sentence structures that emphasize respect. ⚫︎ 尊敬語 is crucial in formal settings, business interactions, and when speaking to strangers or those you need to show deference to.

⚫︎ 尊敬語 is primarily written in kanji and hiragana: 尊敬語. ⚫︎ The reading is そんけいご. ⚫︎ There are no significant variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 敬語 (*keigo*) - This is a broader term encompassing all forms of polite Japanese, including 尊敬語, 謙譲語, and 丁寧語. ⚫︎ 敬体 (*keitai*) - A style of speaking using honorific language.

⚫︎ 謙譲語 (*kenjougo*) - Humble language. ⚫︎ 丁寧語 (*teineigo*) - Polite language. ⚫︎ 普通体 (*futsūtai*) - Plain form or casual language.

社長はもうお着きになりましたか？ ・Translation: Has the president already arrived? ・Explanation: The verb 着きになる (*tsuki ni naru*) is the 尊敬語 form of 着く (*tsuku*, to arrive), showing respect for the president.

先生は何かおっしゃいましたか？ ・Translation: Did the teacher say something? ・Explanation: The verb おっしゃいました (osshaimashita) is the 尊敬語 form of 言う (*iu*, to say), indicating respect for the teacher.

The word 尊敬語 itself is formed from: ⚫︎ 尊敬 (*sonkei*) - respect, esteem, honor. ⚫︎ 語 (*go*) - language, word. Therefore, 尊敬語 literally means "respect language" or "honorific language".