Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 7: 15/18

で御座(ござ)います
to be, polite copula

Structure
Casual
Polite
でござる
ですでござます
Details
Register Polite
使用域 敬語
Information
As mentioned briefly in the ございます lesson, でございます is a structure which can be used as a replacement for であります, the polite form of である (which itself is the formal equivalent of ). Both です and でございます are considered 丁寧語(ていねいご) (polite speech). However, でございます is the more polite of the two. Let’s take a look at a few examples.
  • 郵便局(ゆうびんきょく)隣(となり)でございます
    The post office is next door.
  • 運転手(うんてんしゅ)タナカでございます
    I am Tanaka, the driver.
でござる may also be seen, as it is the base form of + ございます a (special-class) verb. However, in modern Japanese, this is primarily restricted to historical dramas, or characters that have a somewhat ‘quirky’ personality.
  • 拙者(せっしゃ)ハットリでござる
    I am Hattori. (拙者(せっしゃ) is a very common word that was used by samurai, and simply means ‘I’)
Fun Fact
Using でございます to introduce yourself is considered quite polite, however, when referring to other people, いらっしゃる ‘to be’ is preferred, as 尊敬語(そんけいご) is more respectful than 丁寧語(ていねいご).
Slow Male
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この方(かた)田中(たなか)さんでございます
This is Mr. Tanaka.
[polite です]
Play  
この商品(しょうひん)本当(ほんとう)便利(べんり)でございます
These goods really are convenient.
[polite です]
Play  
こちら先生(せんせい)机(つくえ)でございます
This is the teacher's desk.
[polite です]
Play  
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Books
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 138
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 41
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 226
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 188