Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 7: 11/18

なさる

To do (Honorific)

Remember not to use honorific language when speaking about yourself and your actions!

Structure Legend

Structure

するなさる
料理(りょうり)する → 料理(りょうり)なさる
お + Verb[ます]+ なさる

Conjugations
Verb[る]なさる
Verb[ない]なさらない
Verb[た]なさった
Verb[なかった] → なさらなかった

Details

  • Register

    Polite

  • 使用域

    敬語

About なさる

なさる is an honorific language verb which acknowledges and respects the actions of another (never the speaker). Like お~になる, なさる has exactly the same meaning as する.
なさる can be utilized in any situation where する would be used, as a direct replacement. It is a special-class verb, which means that it has some unique conjugation rules. In its casual form, it will conjugate in exactly the same way as a う-Verb.
  • 週末(しゅうまつ)仕事(しごと)なさるのです
    Are you going to work over the weekend also?
  • 勘違(かんちが)なさないで下さい
    Please don't take this the wrong way.
  • 社長(しゃちょう)先週(せんしゅう)どちらゴルフなさったのです
    Boss, where did you go to play golf last week?
  • 納得(なっとく)なさらないなら(わたし)()てください
    If you are not with me on this, please let me know.
However, in the polite form, instead of る changing to り (as would be expected of a う-Verb), it will change to い instead.
  • ()(もの)どうなさますか?
    What would you like to drink?
  • (わす)(もの)なさませんか
    Did you forget anything?
  • 客様(きゃくさま)、どうなさました
    Valued guest, what seems to be the issue?
  • (かれ)計画(けいかく)()ことはなさませんでした
    He did not do anything to change the plan.
Caution
Although some Japanese speakers will use it, expressions like なさっていらっしゃる are considered double keigo (なさる is honorific language, and いらっしゃる is also honorific language), and are technically incorrect. However, なさる may be partnered with ます, which is simply polite speech.
  • 社長(しゃちょう)(いま)、ゴルフなさていらっしゃる
    The CEO is currently playing golf quite playingly. (Unnatural Japanese, with unnatural English to match!)
  • 社長(しゃちょう)(いま)ゴルフなさています
    The CEO is currently playing golf. (Natural Japanese)
Fun Fact
なさる is considered a little bit old fashioned in modern Japanese, and お~になる is the preferred form used by most native speakers.

Examples

  • ()(もの)どうなさいます

    What will you have to drink?

  • 今朝(けさ)(かれ)(いえ)留守(るす)なさいました

    He was away from home this morning.

    The English approximation of 留守にする is 'to be absent' or 'to be out'.

  • 子供(こども)ころスポーツなさっていたんです

    I hear that you played sports when you were younger.

  • (いま)(なに)勉強(べんきょう)なさっています

    What are you studying now?

  • (なに)なさろうするのです

    What will you attempt to do?

    〜ようとする

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

なさる – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (27 in total)

  • pasi

    pasi

    About 9 months ago

    I keep tripping over this… why is あの()信用()なさっていますか using なさっています - why can’t I say なさりますか?

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 9 months ago

    You generally can’t say that, because the polite form of なさる is なさます.
    If you try that, instead of an error, you get a hint that it wants you to say “trusting”.

  • busnea

    busnea

    About 5 months ago

    Why do I have to use the polite form in one review but not in the other? What is the indication in those two example sentences?

Got questions about なさる? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion