A practical sonkeigo guide to respectful nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and formal address terms

Japanese Honorific Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs (Sonkeigo) — Complete List

~5 min read

This page gives you a practical overview of common respectful nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and formal address terms, with examples that show how forms such as おお and ごご are actually used.

Respectful Nouns

○ This page gives you a quick overview of Japanese honorific nouns, but if you want a more focused breakdown, start with our full guide to respectful nouns in Japanese.

Native Nouns with Honorific Prefix o 御

Sino-Japanese Nouns with Honorific Prefix o 御 (exceptions)

Sino-Japanese Nouns with Honorific Prefix go 御

○ One useful starting point here is learning how to tell native Japanese words from Sino-Japanese ones, since that often helps explain why respectful forms take お or ご. For a clear introduction, see Wago vs Kango: Native and Sino-Japanese Words.

Respectful Adjectives

○ For a fuller explanation of patterns, usage, and learner notes, see our detailed guide to respectful adjectives and adverbs in Japanese.

Native Adjectives with Honorific Prefix o 御

Sino-Japanese Adjectives with Honorific Prefix o 御 (exceptions)

Sino-Japanese Adjectives with Honorific Prefix go 御

Respectful Adverbs

○ If you are wondering why some respectful forms take お and others take ご, this lesson explains the pattern in more detail.

Native Adverbs with Honorific Prefix go 御 (exceptions)

Respectful Address Terms

Address Terms with ki 貴 and on 御

○ For more on this, including respectful ways to address people in Japanese, see the Addressing People course.