御座(ござ)います

To be, To exist (Polite)

Structure

ある￫ ござる

Details

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Polite
使用域
敬語

About ございます

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 auxiliary verb ます. It is considered 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)はございますか。
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).

ここは私(わたし)の家(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 honorific language is more respectful than polite speech. 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)が担当者(たんとうしゃ)でございます。
I am the representative.
タナカ様(さま)でございますか？
Are you Mr. Tanaka?
タナカ様(さま)でいらっしゃいますか。
Are you Mr. Tanaka?

Notice that で 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.

Synonyms

がある
To be, There is
Not studied yet

Examples

ありがとうございます。
Thank you very much.
布団(ふとん)はあそこの部屋(へや)にございます。
Your futon is in that room over there.
すみません。青色(あおいろ)の椅子(いす)はございません。
I am sorry. We don't have any blue chairs.
おはようございます。
Good morning. (Polite greeting)
お水(みず)がございます。
There is water.
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Online
- Other substitutions
  Tae Kim
- Polite form of ある
  Renshuu

Offline
- Genki II 2nd Edition
  Page 188
- Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
  Page 226
- Genki II 1st Edition
  Page 158
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ございます – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

Adarain
About 2 years ago
Is “humble” actually the correct descriptor here? My understanding is that “humble” is usually used to refer to keigo verbs that indicate an action done by the in-group (e.g. you or your company) in order to downplay your own importance. Verbs like 参る (humble form of 行く、来る) or おる (humble form of いる). On the other hand, ございます is a neutral polite verb that is used without regards for whether the referent is related to the in-group or out-group (and usually is neither anyway because ございます, like its non-keigo counterpart ある refers to inanimate subjects).
onechad
About 2 years ago
I came in here to see if this very question had been asked. Even the Tae Kim article linked under Readings says this:

It is neither honorific nor humble but it is a step above 「ある」 in politeness.
suppeppo
About 1 year ago
Okay, so I think I have an answer regarding this whole ござる situation (even if this answer might be a bit late lol). This will basically have to be small dive into humble language as a whole so here goes.

Basically, the ‘humble’ language 謙譲語 has two parts; one is for describing actions you do that in some way or another involve the person you are doing something to/for, and the other is for when you are only describing your own actions, but want to be extra polite in your speaking.

The first form, which is what most people probably think about when you say 謙譲語 is 謙譲語１, which includes the お～する pattern as well as some specific verbs. The second form, which can be called either 謙譲語２ (or 丁重語) only contains a handful of verbs.

The verbs which belong to 謙譲語２ are: 致す, 申す, 参る, おる, ござる, and 存じる.

Now, just as 尊敬語 can be used in plain form if you’re close to the person you’re talking to, e.g. 「今日、先生、いっらしゃる？」 this also applies to 謙譲語１, but not