Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 7: 16/18

お〜するI humbly do, I am obliged to do, Humble speech

Structure

お + Verb［ます］+ する
ご(1) + する［Verb］ + する

(1) お, limited to ［する］Verbs like: 電話(でんわ)する、勉強(べんきょう)する、散歩(さんぽ)する

Details

  • Register

    Polite

About お〜する

お〜する comes from a form of polite speech in Japanese called humble speech. This type of speech is used to refer to the speaker and their actions. This is opposed to honorific language, which refers exclusively to the listener and their actions. お〜する is almost exactly the same as お～になる, as in it simply means する.

お〜する is regularly used with words of Japanese origin, while ご～する will be used with words of Chinese origin. The する in this compound will attach directly to the ます stem of almost any verb.

Caution

While the する in this structure will attach directly to the ます stem of verbs, this does not mean that verbs that are already する verbs will become しする. In the case of する verbs, simply change the prefix to ご.

  • ご登録(とうろく)する方(かた)はこちらをクリックしてください。
    For those who want to register, please click here.
  • ご注文(ちゅうもん)する時(とき)はこちらのベルを押(お)してください。
    When you are going to order, please press this bell.

In rare cases, お may be used instead of ご, when attached to words of Chinese origin. There is no specific rule for this, and they must be memorized on a case by case basis.

  • 先輩(せんぱい)にお電話(でんわ)するのがすきです。
    I like to call my senpai.
  • 友達(ともだち)とお勉強(べんきょう)するのは楽(たの)しいです。
    It is fun to study with my friends.

Thankfully, the words of Chinese origin that use お instead of ご are extremely common verbs. This means that you will be exposed to almost all of them very quickly. All others may be assumed to use ご.

Fun Fact

In the same way that お～になる is a more common variation of なさる (both honorific language), お〜する is a more common variation of いたす (both humble speech).

  • 5分後(ふんご)にお電話(でんわ)します。
    After 5 minutes, I will call you. (I will call you in five minutes)
  • 5分後(ふんご)にお電話(でんわ)いたします。
    After 5 minutes, I will call you. (I will call you in five minutes)

Examples

--:--

    ドアをお閉(し)めします。

    I (will) humbly close the door.

    お任(まか)せします。

    I will humbly leave it up to you.

    先生(せんせい)の分(ぶん)もお取(と)りします。

    I will humbly take the teacher's share.

    あなたの分(ぶん)もお作(つく)りします。

    I will also humbly make your share.

    これを彼(かれ)にお渡(わた)ししてください。

    Please humbly hand over this to him.

  • 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.

  • Online

    • Offline

        • Genki II 2nd Edition

          Page 189

        • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

          Page 42 & 360

        • Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide

          Page 230

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      お〜する – Grammar Discussion

      Join the Discussion