JLPT N4 grammar · Chapter 19

Special humble verbs

Modest verbs for your own actions

You'll be able to recognize and use special humble forms for actions such as going, saying, asking, and seeing.

Illustration of the scene described by I will visit the teacher’s home tomorrow.

Read it first

明日あした、先生せんせいのお宅おたくに伺うかがいます。

ashita, sensei no otaku ni ukagaimasu.

What do you think this sentence means?

I will visit the teacher’s home tomorrow.

Why it means that

Use established humble and formal verbs

Some common actions use special humble or formal replacements. They describe the speaker’s side appropriately when addressing someone respectfully.

Formation overview

Speaker’s action

伺う humbly presents a visit or question directed to a respected person.

訪たずねる・聞きく → 伺うかがう

tazuneru・kiku → ukagau

visit / ask

拝見する humbly presents the speaker’s looking at something connected to the respected person.

見みる → 拝見はいけんする

miru → haiken suru

look

いただく is the established humble counterpart for these actions.

もらう・食たべる・飲のむ → いただく

morau・taberu・nomu → itadaku

receive / eat / drink

参る formally presents one’s own movement to the listener.

行いく・来くる → 参まいる

iku・kuru → mairu

go / come

申す formally presents one’s own speech or name.

言いう → 申もうす

iu → mousu

say / be named

いたす formally presents one’s own action.

する → いたす

suru → itasu

おる formally presents one’s own presence.

いる → おる

iru → oru

be present

Speaker’s action	伺う humbly presents a visit or question directed to a respected person.	訪たずねる・聞きく → 伺うかがう tazuneru・kiku → ukagau	visit / ask
	拝見する humbly presents the speaker’s looking at something connected to the respected person.	見みる → 拝見はいけんする miru → haiken suru	look
	いただく is the established humble counterpart for these actions.	もらう・食たべる・飲のむ → いただく morau・taberu・nomu → itadaku	receive / eat / drink
	参る formally presents one’s own movement to the listener.	行いく・来くる → 参まいる iku・kuru → mairu	go / come
	申す formally presents one’s own speech or name.	言いう → 申もうす iu → mousu	say / be named
	いたす formally presents one’s own action.	する → いたす suru → itasu	do
	おる formally presents one’s own presence.	いる → おる iru → oru	be present

How it is built

Form and use Special humble verbs

伺うかがう means humbly visit or ask; 拝見はいけんする means humbly look; いただく means receive or eat/drink humbly. 参まいる, 申もうす, いたす, and おる formally present one’s own going/coming, speech, doing, and presence. Do not use them to lower a respected customer’s action.

Ordinary verb→Established humble or formal verb

Examples

資料しりょうを拝見はいけんしました。

shiryou o haiken shimashita.

I looked at the materials.

私わたしは健太けんたと申もうします。

watashi wa kenta to moushimasu.

My name is Kenta.

Examples

明日あしたの午後ごご、そちらの事務所じむしょに伺うかがいます。

ashita no gogo, sochira no jimusho ni ukagaimasu.

I'll come to your office tomorrow afternoon.

初はじめまして。ワンと申もうします。

hajimemashite. wan to moushimasu.

Nice to meet you. My name is Wang.

お客きゃく様さま、切符きっぷを拝見はいけんします。

okyakusama, kippu o haiken shimasu.

May I see your ticket, please?

7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.