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Write Polite Messages with the Right Honorifics

Find the right words for a client, colleague, or someone you respect. Keep your meaning while making your message more polite.

Your message

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Your rewritten message

Your rewritten message will appear here.

Your text is processed by an AI provider. Remove sensitive details.

How to make a message more polite

  1. 01

    Start with an example

    Choose Try an example above to fill the input, or write your own message.

  2. 02

    Choose your context

    Choose the recipient and tone, then select Rewrite politely. A generation uses a web attempt.

  3. 03

    Review and copy

    Check the facts and wording. Edit, refine or copy the result when it says what you mean.

Keep the decision clear

A polite rewrite should preserve the details and the choice you want to communicate.

Ask Manager Tanaka for a meeting

Your message

Manager Tanaka, could we discuss the proposal for 15 minutes next Tuesday or Thursday afternoon?

Your rewritten message

Manager Tanaka, could we please discuss the proposal for 15 minutes next Tuesday or Thursday afternoon?

Choose the words for the situation

Is formality the same as honorific style?

Tone affects how a message feels. Japanese honorific style also depends on whose action is being described.

Who is speaking to whom?

When writing Japanese to someone outside your organization, the way you describe your own manager can differ from how you address a client. Add context about the people involved.

Can a polite refusal stay clear?

Yes. Keep what you cannot do explicit. A softer tone should not add an agreement or an unconfirmed date.

A guide to Japanese keigo

Japanese has distinct forms for the other person’s actions, your own actions and polite sentence endings. These categories are specific to Japanese.

RespectfulHumblePolite
Respectful language

Use it for the actions of someone you wish to show respect to.

田中様は資料をご覧になりました。

Ms Tanaka looked at the document.

Humble language

Describe an action on your side in a way that shows respect to the other person.

お送りいただいた資料を拝見しました。

I looked at the document you sent.

Polite language

Use polite endings such as desu and masu when addressing the listener.

これから資料を見ます。

I will look at the document now.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs distinguishes five categories, including two kinds of humble language and beautifying expressions. The table groups the two humble forms for comparison. Agency for Cultural Affairs, Guidelines for Honorifics

Common Japanese verbs

Check who performs the action before choosing a form. The table keeps the Japanese expressions in their original writing.

Plain formRespectfulHumblePolite
見るご覧になる拝見する見ます
行くいらっしゃる伺う・参る行きます
来るお越しになる伺う・参る来ます
いるいらっしゃるおるいます
言うおっしゃる申し上げる・申す言います
聞くお聞きになる伺う・拝聴する聞きます
するなさるいたすします
会うお会いになるお目にかかる会います
もらうお受け取りになるいただくもらいます
食べる・飲む召し上がるいただく食べます・飲みます
読むお読みになる拝読する読みます
送るお送りになるお送りする送ります
持つお持ちになるお持ちする持ちます
待つお待ちになるお待ちする待ちます
伝えるお伝えになるお伝えする伝えます
知っているご存じだ存じている・存じ上げている知っています
受け取るお受け取りになる拝受する受け取ります
確認するご確認になる確認いたす確認します
連絡するご連絡なさるご連絡する連絡します
借りるお借りになる拝借する借ります

Expressions to review

Check the situation as well as the grammar.

ExpressionPossible revisionWhat to check
おっしゃられるおっしゃるOssharu already expresses respect, so another respectful ending is unnecessary.
ご覧になられるご覧になるGoran ni naru already expresses respect; avoid adding another respectful ending.
取引先に「拝見されましたか」ご覧になりましたかUse a respectful form for the other person’s action. Haiken describes an action on your side.
社外の相手に「弊社の部長がおっしゃいました」弊社の部長が述べましたWhen speaking externally, avoid elevating someone from your own organization.
単なる送付の報告で「送付させていただきます」お送りしますWhen permission or benefit is not involved, a simpler expression may fit.
初めて確認する内容に「よろしかったでしょうか」よろしいでしょうかUse the present form for a new question; a past form can fit when confirming an earlier agreement.

What the research says about Japanese keigo

The relationship changes the wording

Sekizawa and Yanaka studied Japanese honorific conversion conditioned on social relationships. Some sentence structures, including direct speech, remained difficult.

Sekizawa and Yanaka, ACL Anthology, 2023

Compare approaches

Public tool interfaces reviewed on October 29, 2026. Features and availability can change.

ToolWhat you provideWhat you can review or adjust
ToneBirdA message, with optional recipient, tone and situation.Edit and copy the draft, refine the wording, or review a suggested correction before applying it.
3秒敬語A casual message.Regenerate, adjust formality or softness, add a custom instruction and copy.
UravationA message to rewrite.Provides standard, external and internal styles, copy controls and a view of changes.
LuftText and selected Japanese honorific and business expressions.Dictionary based conversion, checking and a searchable reference table.

Questions before you use the result

What are honorifics?

They are words or forms that show respect, such as titles and forms of address. Their use depends on the language and relationship.

Can I use this for Japanese keigo?

Yes. Select Japanese and choose a style. Check who performs each action before using the result.

How are Rewrite and Check different?

Rewrite suggests a revised message. Check proposes specific changes for you to review and apply.

Do I have to choose a recipient?

No. You can leave the recipient unspecified and add context when it matters.

Will it preserve dates and decisions?

The tool is instructed to preserve your meaning, dates and commitments, but AI can make mistakes. Review the result before sending.

What happens to my text?

Your input is sent to an AI provider for generation. Remove sensitive information before submitting.

What happens at the web limit?

Web usage limits apply. Existing drafts remain editable and can be copied.

Does it send my message?

No. You review and copy the draft, then send it yourself.

More ways to find the right words

AI Response GeneratorEmail RewriterAI Comment Generator

Continue the conversation in your apps

The complete ToneBird desktop replier can use available conversation context, relationship information and your saved writing preferences. Review the draft before inserting and sending it yourself.

  • Available conversation context
  • Information about the person and relationship
  • Your saved writing preferences
  • Review, Tweak and Insert in supported apps
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