お〜する
JLPT N4:humble
A humble way to describe what you do for someone of higher status, lowering yourself to show them respect.
How to form it
- Put お before the ます-stem and add する: 持ちます becomes お持ちする.
- Many Chinese-origin verbs take ご instead: ご案内する (show someone the way).
- いたす in place of する is even more humble: お持ちいたします.
- Use it only for your own actions, or your group's, that involve the other person.
Examples
お荷物をお持ちします。
Let me take your bags.
会場までご案内いたします。
I'll show you to the venue.
Notes
- Verbs with a special humble word use that instead: 行く becomes 参る or 伺う. See 謙譲語.
Common mistakes
- Using it for someone else's action. For them, use お〜になる.
Similar meaning
- お〜になるhonorific
Honorific: raises the other person's action.
- 謙譲語special humble verbs
Special humble verbs like 参る and 申す.