Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 7: 14/18

御座(ござ)います
To be, To exist (Polite)

Structure
Casual
Polite
あるござる
ありますござます
Details
Register Polite
使用域 敬語
Information
ございます is a combination of the (special-class) verb, ござる (御座(ござ)る in its kanji form), and the 助動詞(じょどうし) (auxiliary verb) ます. It is considered 丁寧語(ていねいご) (polite speech), and is directly equivalent to ある (or いる).
  • ありがとうございます
    Thank you very much.
  • 質問(しつもん)ございます
    Do you have any questions?
ござる itself is almost never used in daily conversation in modern Japanese, due to the preference of the polite form, ございます. However, ござる is regularly used in dramas, manga, and other forms of media (especially historical dramas).
  • ここ私(わたし)家(いえ)でござる。
    This is my humble abode.
Fun Fact
御座(ござ)る literally means ‘to be’, and it does not matter whether the object that is being described is animate (would usually use いる), or inanimate (would usually use ある). However, いらっしゃる ‘to be’ is preferred when referring to other people, as 尊敬語(そんけいご) is more respectful than 丁寧語(ていねいご). Due to this, ございます will often be used in reference to people, in place of であります (the polite form of である).
  • 私(わたし)担当者(たんとうしゃ)でございます
    I am the representative.
  • タナカ様(さま)でございます
    Are you Mr. Tanaka?
  • タナカ様(さま)でいらっしゃいます
    Are you Mr. Tanaka?
Notice that is used in these examples. でございます itself is considered its own grammatical structure, that we will examine in a separate grammar point.
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ありがとうございます
Thank you very much.
[humble]
Play  
布団(ふとん)あそこ部屋(へや)ございます
Your futon is in that room over there.
[humble]
Play  
すみません。青色(あおいろ)椅子(いす)ございません
I am sorry. We don't have any blue chairs.
[humble]
Play  
Books
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 188
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 226
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 158