6 Common Formal Japanese Expressions You’ll Hear in Japan

6 Common Formal Japanese Expressions You’ll Hear in Japan

1. いらっしゃいます・参ります (まいります) — irasshaimasu / mairimasu

Meaning: To go/come; to be

– いらっしゃいます (irasshaimasu) → respectful form (尊敬語, sonkeigo)

– 参ります (mairimasu) → humble form (謙譲語, kenjougo)

Usage:
– Every store greets customers with いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase), in person or over an intercom — literally “someone honorable is here.” No need to reply, and you shouldn’t repeat it back to the clerk.
– At train stations, you’ll hear まもなく電車が参ります (mamonaku densha ga mairimasu, “the train is now humbly arriving”) over the intercom or on a signboard when a train is pulling in.

 

2. 召し上がります (めしあがります)・いただきます — meshiagarimasu / itadakimasu

Meaning: To eat/drink; to receive

– 召し上がります (meshiagarimasu) → respectful form

– いただきます (itadakimasu) → humble form

Usage:
– At a cafe or fast food place, the cashier may ask こちらでお召し上がりですか？ (Kochira de o-meshiagari desu ka?, “Will you be eating here?”)
– On food packaging or when given a gift of food: お召し上がりください (O-meshiagari kudasai)
– いただきます (itadakimasu) isn’t just said before eating — it’s also used when receiving an object, gift, or someone’s time, to show gratitude.

 

3. ご存知ですか (ごぞんじですか) — Gozonji desu ka

Meaning: Did you know~?

Usage: A polite way to ask someone a question. You’ll hear it a lot from TV interviewers asking the audience, or in commercials. Also safe to use with superiors or strangers for extra politeness points.

 

4. ご覧ください (ごらんください) — Goran kudasai

Meaning: Please take a look.

Usage:
– Shopkeepers often say ご覧くださいませ！/ どうぞご覧ください！ (Goran kudasaimase! / Douzo goran kudasai!, “Have a look around!”) when you enter
– Signs use it to grab attention
– Tour guides use it to point out something worth seeing

 

5. なさいます・いたします — nasaimasu / itashimasu

Meaning: To do

Usage:
– Cashiers and hotel concierge use this when talking about services they’ll do for you.
E.g., ご予約はいつなさいましたか (Go-yoyaku wa itsu nasaimashita ka?, “When did you make your reservation?”)
– When your turn comes up in line: お待たせいたしました (Omatase itashimashita, “Sorry to keep you waiting”)
– At train stations: まもなく到着いたします (Mamonaku touchaku itashimasu)

Note: なさいます (nasaimasu, polite) is different from ～なさい (~nasai, a strong command).
E.g., a mother saying 静かにしなさい (Shizuka ni shinasai, “Be quiet!”) is scolding her child — not being polite.

 

6. いかがですか — Ikaga desu ka

Meaning: “How about~?” / “How is~?” / “How do you like it?”

Usage:
– When trying on clothes or testing products, a clerk may ask これはいかがですか？ (Kore wa ikaga desu ka?)
– If you like it: それにします (Sore ni shimasu, “I’ll take it”)
– If not: すみませんが、他のがありますか (Sumimasen ga, hoka no ga arimasu ka?, “Sorry, do you have something else?”)
– Coming out of a fitting room: いかがでしたか？ (Ikaga deshita ka?)
– If you like it: いいと思います。これ、お願いします (Ii to omoimasu. Kore, onegaishimasu)
– If not: すみませんが、これはちょっと… (Sumimasen ga, kore wa chotto…)

Note: With friends, use the more casual どうですか ( Dou desu ka ) instead — being too formal with friends can come off as annoying.

Related Post:
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How to Say “Go,” “Come,” and “Return” in Japanese