お〜になる details
write + honorific — an esteemed person does
o kaki ni naru
honorific — an esteemed person does
meaning: write
部長はもうお帰りになりました。
buchou wa mou o kaeri ni narimashita.
The department head has already gone home. neutral
お客様、こちらの席をお使いになりますか。
okyakusama, kochira no seki o o tsukai ni narimasu ka.
Ma'am, will you be using this seat? formal
Examples
honorific verb frame — respectfully describing the action of someone above you (a customer, superior, or teacher)
部長はもうお帰りになりました。
buchou wa mou o kaeri ni narimashita.
The department head has already gone home. neutral
お客様、こちらの席をお使いになりますか。
okyakusama, kochira no seki o o tsukai ni narimasu ka.
Ma'am, will you be using this seat? formal
先生はその記事をもうお読みになったそうです。
sensei wa sono kiji o mou o yomi ni natta sou desu.
I hear the professor has already read that article. neutral
Formation
お{V-masu-stem}になるattaches to ます-stem
Notes
Related patterns
Similar
The same honorific お+stem frame in two speech acts — お読みになる states the honored person's act, お読みください requests it; the request is the imperative face of the same respect.
Lookalikes
Same お+stem shell, opposite vector — お〜になる raises the SUBJECT's act (先生がお読みになった, their act exalted), お〜する lowers the speaker's own act done for that person (私がお持ちします); pointing になる at yourself self-honors, the classic keigo slip.