丁重語 details
Examples
courteous speech — the formal version of an everyday verb, used about yourself where there is nobody in particular to defer to
それでは、私が先に参ります。
soredewa, watashi ga saki ni mairimasu.
In that case, I will go on ahead. formal
母は今、出かけております。
haha wa ima, dekakete orimasu.
My mother is out at the moment. formal
初めまして、田中と申します。
hajimemashite, tanaka to moushimasu.
How do you do — my name is Tanaka. formal
その件については、まだ何も存じておりません。
sono ken ni tsuite wa, mada nani mo zonjite orimasen.
I don't know anything about that matter yet. formal
Formation
決まった形(参る・おる・いたす・申す・存じる)attaches to verb stem (special attachment)サ変名詞+いたす(検討いたします・確認いたします)attaches to noun phrase (schematic)
Notes
です・あります for the listener (二階でございます) and says nothing
about whose action it is.
Related patterns
Similar
丁重語 raises nobody inside the sentence — it lifts the tone toward whoever is listening — while 尊敬語 raises a person named in it; so 参ります needs no esteemed destination and stands equally in 駅に参ります and 田舎に参ります.
Lookalikes
申し上げる and 申す differ by more than length — 謙譲語 needs someone the action reaches and lowers you toward them (先生に申し上げる), while 丁重語 has no such person and merely dresses the act for the listener (私は田中と申します).
Combines with
いたす is what する becomes when the humble wrap goes up a notch — お届けいたします; the wrap stays お〜, so this register is a swap inside it rather than a frame of its own.