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JLPT N4Honorific Language

なさる— Honorific "する"

The honorific (sonkeigo) equivalent of する (to do). Used to elevate the actions of someone you respect. It is an irregular verb: its polite form is なさいます, not なさります.

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A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 42 · HONORIFIC LANGUAGE

Structure · 形

[Respected subject] + [Noun] + を なさる/なさいます

Examples · 例文

  • 先生は何をなさっていますか？

    Sensei wa nani wo nasatte imasu ka?

    What is the teacher doing?

    なさっています = honorific なさっている/しています (is doing)

  • 社長はゴルフをなさいます。

    Shachou wa gorufu wo nasaimasu.

    The president plays golf.

    なさいます = honorific します

  • ご注文はどうなさいますか？

    Gochuumon wa dou nasaimasu ka?

    How would you like to place your order?

    Standard polite service phrase in shops

Usage notes · 注意

  • The Command Form Origin: The firm command used by parents/teachers (勉強しなさい) derives from this verb: なさる → なさい.
  • Irregular Polite Form: なさる → なさいます (the り drops), like other honorifics ください・いらっしゃる・おっしゃる.
  • Formality Triangle: する (casual) → します (polite) → いたします (humble/self) OR なさいます (respectful/other).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones なさる is tested against.

vsされる

される is a lighter, very common honorific built on the passive; なさる is a dedicated, warmer honorific verb specifically for する.

vsいたす

いたす is HUMBLE (lowers your OWN action); なさる is HONORIFIC (elevates the OTHER person's action).

More honorific language

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