Keigo isn’t just a fancy extra for Japanese-it’s the social wiring that keeps conversations smooth and respectful. If you’ve ever frozen up wondering whether to say いらっしゃいます or just 来ます, you’re in good company. This list hands you around 56 key honorific words and expressions that pop up in real life, from formal business settings to polite everyday chats.
Each entry gives you a straightforward meaning and a natural example sentence, so you can see exactly how the expression behaves in context. We’ve skipped the dusty textbook fillers and focused on the nitty‑gritty keigo you’ll actually use-whether you’re greeting a client, thanking your senpai, or just trying not to sound like a walking dictionary.
Ready to level up your polite Japanese? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable Japanese keigo vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable Japanese keigo flashcards.
Want more than one list? Browse our Japanese section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve got your sonkeigo and kenjougo sorted? Jump into the quick quiz below-it’s a low‑stress way to check which honorific terms have already stuck and which ones could use another peek.
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Browse the Full List
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 知っている | ご存じです | To know |
| 知る | 存じる | To know |
| 確認します | kakunin shimasu | kakunin shimasu |
| 聞く | 伺う | To ask / hear |
| 行きます | 参ります | Humble self-action |
| 行く・来る | 参る | To go / come |
| 行く・来る・いる | いらっしゃる | To go, come, or be |
| 見る | ご覧になる | To see / look at |
| 言う | おっしゃる | To say |
| 食べる・飲む | 召し上がる | To eat / drink |
Free Japanese Keigo Vocabulary List and Flashcards to Download
Use the purple vocab-list button to grab the Japanese keigo vocabulary list, and the teal flashcards button to download the Japanese keigo flashcards. Everything is 100% free with no signup required.
