お～・ご～
Add politeness or respect to words
You'll be able to use common polite prefixes naturally with Japanese and Sino-Japanese words.
お名前を教えてください。
onamae o oshiete kudasai.
What do you think this sentence means?
Please tell me your name.
Use conventional polite prefixes
お～ and ご～ can make conventional expressions polite, respectful, or refined. They appear in everyday words as well as honorific and humble patterns.
ご住所を書いてください。
gojuusho o kaite kudasai.
Please write your address.
Form and use お～・ご～
お often accompanies native Japanese words and ご often accompanies Sino-Japanese words, but there are exceptions such as お電話. Learn conventional combinations; do not add a prefix to every noun. お茶 is ordinary polite vocabulary even for your own tea.
ご住所を書いてください。
gojuusho o kaite kudasai.
Please write your address.
お茶をどうぞ。
ocha o douzo.
Please have some tea.
いらっしゃいませ。お飲み物は何になさいますか。
irasshaimase. onomimono wa nani ni nasaimasu ka.
Welcome. What would you like to drink?
ご家族は何人ですか。
gokazoku wa nannin desu ka.
How many people are there in your family?
先生、お元気ですか。
sensei, ogenki desu ka.
How are you, Professor?
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.