Page 458 - Basic Japanese

Sumisu-san Mr. Smith

Yōko-san Yoko

Yōko-chan Yoko
Maikeru-san Michael

shachō-san president
o-kyaku-san customer, guest

o-kyaku-sama

9.6. Verbs: the honorific infinitive

The humble or exalted equivalent to a simple polite verb of
neutral status is often an expression built around the

HONORIFIC INFINITIVE. For verbs, this form is usually made
by prefixing o- to the regular infinitive.

The most common honorific usage for verbs is as follows.

For the humble form, use the honorific infinitive plus some
form of the neutral verb suru ‘does’ or of the humble verb

itasu ‘does.’ The forms with itasu show greater deference (=
are more humble) than the forms with suru:

O-kaki itashimasu./O-kaki shimasu.
I’ll write it.

For the exalted form, use the honorific infinitive + the
particle ni + some form of the verb naru ‘becomes.’

O-kaki ni narimasu.
(He) will write it.