In Japanese, the honorific prefix “お” (pronounced o) is used to convey politeness, respect, or formality. It is commonly attached to nouns, verbs, and even adjectives. This small yet significant addition plays an important role in Japanese, where politeness and hierarchy are highly emphasized.

Function of the Honorific “お”

The prefix “お” adds a sense of respect and elevates the status of the object or action it modifies. This is often seen in polite speech (丁寧語, teineigo), where words are softened or made more respectful when referring to people, objects, or actions.

For example, consider the difference between “水” (mizu), which means “water,” and “お水” (omizu), which is the polite form. While “水” is perfectly acceptable in casual contexts, “お水” is preferred when in an formal setting. For example, in a high-end restaurant where you are working as a waiter. By adding “お,” you show respect for the listener and the item being discussed.

Another example is the word “茶” (cha), meaning “tea.” When discussing tea in a formal or polite context, you would say “お茶” (ocha), as in the sentence:

  お茶をどうぞ
(Ocha o dōzo)
Please have some tea
 
   
   
       
  お茶 = Tea  
  = Direct topic particle  
  どうぞ = Please  

Gender and Social Nuances

Although “お” is often seen in both male and female speech, some terms that use the “お” prefix can be perceived as more feminine. For instance, women are more likely to use “お料理” (oryōri), meaning “cooking” or “dish”, while men might just say “料理” (ryōri). However, this distinction is becoming less rigid in modern times.

The honorific “お” also appears in words of cultural or traditional importance, such as “お寺” (otera, meaning “temple”) and “お正月” (oshōgatsu, meaning “New Year”). These terms highlight the respect given to significant places, events, or items in Japanese culture.

Respect for People

When addressing or referring to others, especially elders or individuals of higher social standing, “お” can be added to titles. For example, “母” (haha) means “mother,” but when speaking about someone else’s mother or referring to your own mother in a formal setting, “お母さん” (okāsan) is used. Similarly, “お兄さん” (onīsan) is used for “older brother,” adding respect and warmth to the relationship.

More sentences with the honorific お

  お名前は何ですか
(Onamae wa nan desu ka?)
What is your name?
 
   
   
       
  お名前 = Name  
  = What  
  です = Is  
  = Question particle  

The word “名前” (namae), meaning “name,” becomes “お名前” (onamae) to show respect when asking someone for their name.

  お風呂に入ります
(Ofuro ni hairimasu)
I’m going to take a bath
 
   
   
       
  お風呂 = Bath  
  = In (particle)  
  入ります = To go in  

“風呂” (furo), meaning “bath,” becomes “お風呂” (ofuro) to make it more polite, especially when talking about the act of bathing in a formal or respectful context.