Humble Verb Forms
Note that many verbs have special honorific and humble verb counterparts. One example is the verb iku (to go), whose humble form is the verb mairu, and whose honorific form is the verb irassharu. These special counterparts are listed in the main entries.
For those verbs not having such counterparts, the honorific and humble forms can be made as follows:
1. HONORIFIC: o + verb stem + ni naru
The most common way to make an honorific form out of a verb is to add o to the verb stem, and then follow it with ni naru.
a. Sensei wa hon o o-yomi ni narimasu.
The teacher reads the book.
b. Tegami o o-kaki ni narimashita ka.
Have you written the letter?
Though used with less frequency, a politer honorific form can be made by replacing ni naru with nasaru: o + verb stem + nasaru.
a. Ano e o o-kai nasaimashita ka.
Did you buy that painting?
b. Futari no kekkon no koto o o-kiki nasaimashita ka.
Did you hear about their marriage?
2. HONORIFIC: passive form
The passive form of verbs also is used to express politeness,
a. Tanaka-san, kinoo hon' ya ni ikaremashita ka?
Mr. Tanaka, did you go to the bookstore yesterday?
b. Sensei wa denwa de sugu kotaeraremashita.
The teacher answered immediately by telephone.
3. HONORIFIC: doozo + o + verb stem + kudasai
A polite way of making a re