敬語の レベルを そろえる (keigo no reberu o soroeru) — Holding one level to the end
Once you start 敬語, the same level holds to the end of the sentence.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
Meaning
Two mistakes happen a lot.
Watch out
- First — mixing levels. Once you start 尊敬語, the ending must stay です・ます too.
- × 社長が そう おっしゃった. × 部長が 来られた よ.
- Correct: 社長が そう おっしゃいました.
- Showing respect in the middle of a sentence and then dropping into casual speech at the end is the mistake that jars most.
- Second — raising yourself. 尊敬語 never applies to your own actions: × 私が ごらんに なります. × 私が いらっしゃいます.
- In the same way, when you talk to a customer or another company you do not use 尊敬語 about your own 店長, 課長 or 社長 either — × 課長は 3時に 戻られます.
- Correct: 課長は 3時に 戻ります.
- A senior inside the company is still your own side once an outsider is listening.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
課長は もう 帰られましたか。
かちょうは もう かえられましたか。
Has the section chief already gone home?
お客様、課長は 3時に 戻ります。
おきゃくさま、かちょうは 3じに もどります。
Sir/Madam, the section chief will be back at 3.
社長が そう おっしゃいました。
しゃちょうが そう おっしゃいました。
That is what the president said.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Telling a customer "my 課長 is back at 3" — which is right?
💡 Hint: The 課長 is on your own side.
You never raise your own company in front of a customer. Plain 戻ります is correct.
In which sentence is the level consistent?
💡 Hint: The ending must stay です・ます too.
おっしゃいました keeps both the respect and the polite ending; おっしゃった drops the ending.
Talking about your own action, "I will look at the document" — which is right?
💡 Hint: 尊敬語 is only ever for the other person.
Using 尊敬語 about your own action raises yourself, which is wrong — both ごらんに なります and お見に なります are out. Here 見られます reads as "I can look", not as respect. For your own actions です・ます is right.
Your score: /3