Business Japanese – Honorific Expressions for “行く” and “来る”①
Table of Contents
1. 「いらっしゃる」「おいでになる」「お見えになる」「お越しになる」の違い
2. Basic Honorific Expressions for “行く” and “来る”
3. Similar Expressions and Their Usage
4. Expressions for Specific Situations and Contexts
5. Summary
6. Similar Articles
7. Comment
Q: What is the difference between “いらっしゃる”, “おいでになる”, “お見えになる”, and “お越しになる”?
A: All of these are honorific expressions for “行く” and “来る”, but they have different usages and nuances. Below, we will explain the differences between them.
Basic Honorific Expressions for “行く” and “来る”
First, master the basics before expanding your variations.
| Type | Expression |
| Respectful Language (尊敬語) | いらっしゃる |
| Respectful Language (尊敬語) | おいでになる |
[Examples]
社長、A社の鈴木様がいらっしゃいました。
President, Mr. Suzuki from Company A has arrived.
まもなくお客様がおいでになります。
Our guest will be here shortly.
Both “いらっしゃる” and “おいでになる” are honorific expressions for “行く” and “来る”, and their level of politeness is about the same, making them interchangeable.
However, in recent years, “いらっしゃる” has been more commonly used as a general honorific expression, while “おいでになる” is considered a more formal and refined expression, often used in written language or formal situations.
Similar Expressions and Their Usage
In addition to basic honorific expressions, the following phrases are also used:
• お見えになる
• お越しになる
However, rather than simply increasing the number of alternative expressions, it is important to use them appropriately based on the situation and context.
First, let’s understand the difference between these two expressions.
① Difference in Politeness Between “お見えになる” and “お越しになる“
“お越しになる” is a more polite and formal expression than “お見えになる”.
[Examples]
明日12時頃、お客様がお見えになります。
Around 12:00 noon tomorrow, our guest will be arriving.
来週の月曜日に、鈴木様がお越しになります。
Mr. Suzuki will be coming next Monday.
“お越しになる” is a more respectful expression that elevates the action of the other person.
2. Difference in Meaning Between “お見えになる” and “お越しになる“
・お見えになる: A polite way to say “来る” (come).
・お越しになる: Emphasizes that someone made a special effort to come from a distance.
[Examples]
社長、A社の鈴木様がお見えになりました。
President, Mr. Suzuki from Company A has arrived.
⇒ This simply expresses that Mr. Suzuki has come.
本日はお越しいただきありがとうございました。
Thank you for coming today.
⇒ This conveys gratitude for the effort made to come from a distance.
[Note]
It is incorrect to say “本日はお見えいただきありがとうございます。”
Since “お見えになる” simply means “to come”, when expressing gratitude, “お越しいただきありがとうございます” is the appropriate phrase.
Expressions for Specific Situations and Contexts
In honorific expressions, when a superior or a customer “comes to” or “has come to” a company or store, there are appropriate ways to express it.
① Expressions for Visiting a Company or Store
• ご来社（いただく）: Used when someone visits a company.
• ご来店（いただく）: Used when a customer visits a store.
[Examples]
先日はお忙しい中、ご来社いただきありがとうございました。
Thank you for visiting our company the other day despite your busy schedule.
⇒ This expresses gratitude to business partners or others who have visited the company.
またのご来店をお待ちしております。
We look forward to your next visit.
⇒ This expresses the hope that a customer will visit the store again.
② Expressions for Acknowledging a Superior’s Effort in Traveling
When a superior makes an effort to travel to a location, the following expressions are used to show respect and gratitude.
• ご足労（いただく・おかけする）：Used to express appreciation and respect for the time and effort someone has spent traveling.
[Examples]
A: 本日はご足労いただき、ありがとうございました。
B: いえいえ、とんでもないです。
A: Thank you for taking the time to come today.
B: No, not at all.
ご足労をおかけし、申し訳ございませんでした。
I apologize for any inconvenience caused by asking you to come.
⇒ This expresses humility and gratitude for the person’s effort in coming.
[Note]
This phrase is used regardless of whether the person physically walked or used other means of transportation. It acknowledges the time and effort spent on traveling.
Summary
- In addition to “いらっしゃる”, expressions such as “お見えになる” and “お越しになる” are also used.
- “お越しになる” is a more polite expression than “お見えになる”.
- While “お見えになる” is a polite way of saying “来る” (come), “お越しになる” conveys the nuance of “coming from a distance with effort.”
- When a superior visits a company, “ご来社（いただく）” is used, whereas “ご来店（いただく）” is used when a customer visits a store.
- To show appreciation for a superior who has made the effort to travel, “ご足労（いただく）” is used.
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