丁寧語 — です・ます / ございます (teineigo — desu/masu, gozaimasu) — The basic polite language that works with anyone
Language that raises or lowers no one — it just makes the way you speak polite.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
丁寧語 is the basic polite language you get by speaking with です／ます. It raises nobody and lowers nobody, so it is safe with anyone. When you need it more formal, ございます replaces あります and 〜で ございます replaces です — 「トイレは 二階に ございます」「こちらが 会議室で ございます」. You hear those two every day in shops, hotels, at reception and on the phone. Putting お／ご in front of a noun also makes it polite: お on native Japanese words (お名前, お仕事, お金, お店) and ご on Chinese-origin words (ご家族, ご住所, ご両親, ご注文). There are exceptions — お電話, お時間, お食事, お料理 are Chinese-origin but still take お, so learn those few by heart. A big mistake: お／ご goes on the other person's things, not on your own — you ask 「お名前は?」, but about yourself you say 「名前は ラメシュです」. Which to pick? With same-rank coworkers, in shop talk and in ordinary daily work 丁寧語 alone is enough; add 尊敬語／謙譲語 only for a boss, a customer or a stranger, because full 敬語 with a close friend sounds like you are pushing them away.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
お名前と ご住所を お願いします。
onamae to gojuusho o onegai shimasu.
Your name and address, please.
トイレは 二階に ございます。
toire wa nikai ni gozaimasu.
The toilet is on the second floor.
こちらが 会議室で ございます。
kochira ga kaigishitsu de gozaimasu.
This here is the meeting room.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Question: 1/3Which pair uses お／ご correctly?
💡 Hint: 名前 is a native word, 家族 is Chinese-origin.
お on native words (お名前), ご on Chinese-origin words (ご家族).
What is the 丁寧語 form of 「あります」?
💡 Hint: The word you hear daily in shops and hotels.
あります → ございます. おります is the humble います and is not used for things.
Showing a customer the room, which says "this is the meeting room"?
💡 Hint: Look for the polite form of です.
です → で ございます. いらっしゃいます and おります are only used for people.
Your score: /3