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Japanese Keigo Converter

Convert plain Japanese to polite and formal speech - keigo reference.

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丁寧語 (Teineigo)

Polite form. Used with anyone older, unfamiliar, or in professional contexts. Ends in ～ます / ～です.

尊敬語 (Sonkeigo)

Respectful form. Used to show respect for others' actions. You elevate what THEY do.

謙譲語 (Kenjōgo)

Humble form. Used to lower your own actions when speaking to superiors. You humble what YOU do.

Plain (普通形)	Polite / Teineigo (丁寧語)	Respectful / Sonkeigo (尊敬語)	Humble / Kenjōgo (謙譲語)	English
いる	います	いらっしゃる	おる	to be/exist
いく	いきます	いらっしゃる	まいる	to go
くる	きます	いらっしゃる / おいでになる	まいる	to come
する	します	なさる	いたす	to do
いう	いいます	おっしゃる	もうす / もうしあげる	to say
たべる	たべます	めしあがる	いただく	to eat
のむ	のみます	めしあがる	いただく	to drink
もらう	もらいます	おもらいになる	いただく	to receive
あげる	あげます	おあげになる	さしあげる	to give (to others)
みる	みます	ごらんになる	はいけんする	to see/look
しっている	しっています	ごぞんじだ	ぞんじている	to know
おもう	おもいます	おかんがえになる	ぞんじる	to think
きく	ききます	おきなりになる	うかがう	to ask / listen
おはよう	おはようございます	-	-	Good morning
ありがとう	ありがとうございます	-	-	Thank you
すみません	もうしわけございません	-	-	Excuse me / Sorry
よろしく	よろしくおねがいします	-	よろしくおねがいいたします	Nice to meet you / Please
～してください	～していただけますか	～していただけますでしょうか	-	Please do ~
わかった？	わかりましたか？	おわかりでしょうか？	-	Do you understand?
わたし	わたくし	-	わたくし	I / Me
かいしゃ	かいしゃ	おたくのかいしゃ (your company)	へいしゃ・わたくしどものかいしゃ	Company
名前	お名前	おなまえ	なまえ	Name

About Japanese Keigo Converter

What Is Keigo (敬語)?

Keigo (敬語) is the Japanese honorific speech system used to show respect, politeness, and social awareness. It is not just about being polite — it reflects your understanding of social hierarchy, your relationship with the listener, and the formality of the situation. Every Japanese workplace, shop, and official setting uses keigo daily.

For Nepali students moving to Japan under the SSW (Specified Skilled Worker) visa, keigo is essential for making a good impression at work and communicating professionally with supervisors, customers, and colleagues.

Three Levels of Keigo

Japanese keigo has three main forms. 丁寧語 (teineigo) is standard polite speech using ます and です endings — this is what most textbooks teach first and what you use in everyday situations. 尊敬語 (sonkeigo) elevates the actions of others to show respect, such as changing 食べる to 召し上がる. 謙譲語 (kenjōgo) humbles your own actions, such as changing 食べる to いただく.

Understanding when to use each level is more important than memorizing every form. In most workplace situations, teineigo combined with basic sonkeigo will serve you well during your first months in Japan.

Keigo for Working in Japan

In Japanese workplaces, keigo is not optional — it is expected. When speaking to your boss (上司), customers (お客様), or senior colleagues (先輩), you need at least teineigo. Common workplace keigo phrases include お疲れ様です (otsukaresama desu) when greeting colleagues, 承知しました (shōchi shimashita) to acknowledge instructions, and 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu) when entering or leaving a room.

The JFT Basic exam tests your understanding of these workplace situations in its listening section. Being familiar with keigo patterns helps you answer correctly even when the exact phrases are new to you.

How This Keigo Converter Works

Enter any Japanese verb or phrase in plain form, and our converter shows you the equivalent in teineigo (polite), sonkeigo (respectful), and kenjōgo (humble) forms. It covers both regular conjugation patterns and the important irregular keigo verbs that you must simply memorize.

Use this tool while studying to quickly check if you are using the right form, or to learn new keigo expressions for verbs you already know in casual form. The converter also shows example sentences so you can see each form used in natural context.

How to Use Japanese Keigo Converter

Type a plain Japanese sentence into the input field.

Select the desired formality level (teineigo, sonkeigo, or kenjōgo).

View the keigo conversion with explanations of what changed.

Copy the polite version to use in your writing or conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know keigo for the JFT Basic exam? +

Yes, the JFT Basic exam includes situations where keigo is used, especially in workplace and customer service scenarios in the listening section. You do not need to produce perfect keigo, but you need to understand it when you hear it. Knowing basic teineigo and recognizing common sonkeigo expressions will help you significantly.

When should I use keigo at work in Japan? +

Use keigo whenever speaking to supervisors, customers, clients, or anyone you have just met. With close colleagues of the same rank, you may gradually shift to casual speech as the relationship develops, but always default to teineigo when unsure. In emails and formal documents, keigo is always expected regardless of your relationship.

What is the difference between sonkeigo and kenjōgo? +

Sonkeigo (尊敬語) raises the status of the other person's actions — you use it to describe what your boss or customer does. Kenjōgo (謙譲語) lowers your own actions to show humility. For example, "the boss eats" uses sonkeigo (召し上がる), while "I eat" in front of the boss uses kenjōgo (いただく). The key is: sonkeigo for others, kenjōgo for yourself.

Is keigo difficult for Nepali speakers to learn? +

Nepali also has levels of politeness (tapāī vs timi vs ta), so the concept of adjusting speech for respect is familiar. The challenge in Japanese is that keigo often uses completely different verb forms rather than just changing pronouns or endings. However, starting with the most common 10–15 keigo verbs and workplace phrases will cover most situations you encounter.

Can I just use teineigo (ます form) for everything? +

Teineigo alone will get you through most daily situations without offending anyone. It is perfectly acceptable for new residents and workers in Japan. As you become more comfortable, adding sonkeigo when talking about your boss's or customer's actions will make your Japanese sound more natural and professional. Most Japanese people appreciate the effort even if the form is not perfect.