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.
Structure
[Respected subject] + [Noun] + を なさる/なさいます
Examples
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
• 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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