弊〜 (hei~) — our (company / shop …) — humble prefix
The prefix that lowers your own company or shop when talking to outsiders — the exact mirror of 「貴〜」.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Working at a Japanese company, from the first day you answer a customer's call or write an email you need this word: 「弊社の田中より、改めてご連絡いたします」— 'Tanaka from our company will contact you again.'
- Shop websites say 「弊店」too.
Meaning
「弊（へい）」means 'worn, shabby' — you deliberately make your own side small to show respect to the other side.
How to attach
- It attaches only to fixed words: 弊社・弊店・弊所・弊誌.
- 「拙〜」and 「愚〜」do the same kind of job: 拙著 (my book), 愚息 (my son).
Versus what you know
- The previous point's 「貴〜」raises the other person; 「弊〜」bows your own side down; it does for nouns what the humble verbs from N2 like 「伺う」「申す」do for actions.
- Unlike 「貴社」, 「弊社」is used both in writing and in speech (phone, meetings).
- Keep it apart from 「当社」('this company' in notices, terms and ads — no humility) and 「うちの会社」(with friends).
Watch out
- The key rule: 「弊」is always for your own side, and only when speaking to outsiders (customers, other companies).
- It can't go with words that honour your own company (弊社のご発展).
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
弊社の担当者より、改めてご連絡いたします。
へいしゃのたんとうしゃより、あらためてごれんらくいたします。
The person in charge at our company will contact you again.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 弊 = our (humble) → 社 = company → 弊社 = our company → の担当者より = from the person in charge → 改めてご連絡いたします = will contact you again.
弊店では、現金のほかクレジットカードもご利用いただけます。
へいてんでは、げんきんのほかクレジットカードもごりよういただけます。
At our shop you can pay by credit card as well as cash.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 弊 + 店 = 弊店 = our shop (humble, to customers) → では = at → クレジットカードもご利用いただけます = cards can be used too.
このたびは弊社の製品をお選びいただき、誠にありがとうございます。
このたびはへいしゃのせいひんをおえらびいただき、まことにありがとうございます。
Thank you very much for choosing our company's product.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) このたびは = on this occasion → 弊社 = our company (humble) → の製品をお選びいただき = for choosing the product → 誠にありがとうございます = heartfelt thanks (the start of a product manual or email).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
(In an email from a shop to a customer) 「＿＿の商品をお選びいただき、ありがとうございます。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: The shop is talking about itself.
Your own shop, humbly, is 「弊店」. 貴店 is the other side's shop; 御店・尊店 aren't used this way.
In which sentence is 「弊社」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Honouring your own company with 「ご」?
弊社 lowers your own side, so honouring it with 「ご発展をお祈り」doesn't fit. To the other company, write 「貴社のご発展をお祈り申し上げます」.
Whose book is 「拙著」?
💡 Hint: 拙, like 弊, lowers yourself.
拙著 = the book I wrote (humble). 弊・拙・愚 are all for your own side; for the other side, 貴・尊・高.
Your score: /3