Japanese Keigo : Differences Between 'お' and 'ご'

Japanese Keigo : Differences Between ‘お’ and ‘ご’

単語 (Vocabulary)

2024.01.022024.01.09

Encountering the Japanese character “御” often leads to a perplexing choice between ‘お’ and ‘ご’ as prefixes. The article dives deep into the intricacies of these honorific markers, shedding light on the nuanced differences in their usage.

お or ご？
お＋名詞（Noun）
ご＋名詞（Noun）

お or ご？

Primarily, the distinction between “お” and “ご” relies on whether the word is of Japanese origin (kunyomi) or Chinese origin (onyomi). Words derived from Japanese typically take “お,” while those originating from Chinese commonly use “ご.”

For instance, words like “お話” (ohanashi – story) or “お名前” (onamae – name) exhibit the use of “お” due to their Japanese origins. Conversely, terms like “ご飯” (gohan – meal) or “ご案内” (goannai – guidance) showcase the use of “ご” stemming from their Chinese origins.

However, numerous exceptions exist to this rule, as seen in phrases such as “お弁当” (obento – lunchbox) or “お散歩” (osanpo – walk), where “お” is used despite the words’ non-Chinese origins.

One of the most challenging aspects is the cases where either “お” or “ご” is acceptable. For example, expressions like “お返事／ご返事” (o-henji/go-henji – reply) or “お勉強／ご勉強” (o-benkyou/go-benkyou – study) allow for the use of either prefix, depending on the speaker’s preference or context.