Page 464 - Basic Japanese
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“Ginkō e ikimasu.”
“Doko e irasshaimasu ka.” “I’m going to the
“Where are you bank.”
going?”
An exception to this occurs when the verb implies
participation of the other person or some person of higher
social status as fellow-subject, indirect or direct object,
possessor of something involved in the action, etc.; in this
case, the humble form is customary. Sometimes, however,
the humble form may be used by both speakers.
“Doko e irasshaimasu ka.”
“Where are you going?”
“Tanaka sensei no otaku e mairimasu.”
“I’m going to Professor Tanaka’s house.”
9.12. Adjectives and adjectival nouns
An adjective used as a modifier before a noun or noun
phrase either remains unchanged or just adds the honorific
prefix o-: o-isogashii toki ‘a busy time (for you).’ When an
adjective is used at the end of a sentence as the main
predicate, it may be treated in one of two ways: as an
exalted expression, or as a general honorific (exalted or
humble) expression. It is usually treated as an exalted
expression IF THE REFERENCE IS DIRECTLY TO THE PERSON
YOU ARE TALKING WITH or TO SOMEONE ELSE OF HIGH
SOCIAL STATUS. Otherwise, if the reference is to one of his
