お〜になる — Honorific Action Template
The standard template that converts most regular verbs into honorific (sonkeigo) forms, used to describe the actions of a respected person.
Structure
お + [Verb masu-stem] + になる/なります
Examples
社長がお帰りになります。
Shachou ga okaeri ni narimasu.
The president is going home.
お + 帰り (return) + になります
先生が本をお読みになった。
Sensei ga hon wo oyomi ni natta.
The teacher read the book.
お + 読み (read) + になった
お客様がお待ちになっています。
Okyakusama ga omachi ni natte imasu.
The customer is waiting.
お + 待ち (wait) + になっています
• Not for every verb: single-mora stems (見る→お見になる ✗) and verbs with dedicated honorifics (行く→いらっしゃる) don't use this template. • The Polite Request Origin: お待ちください (please wait) comes from this pattern — dropping になる and adding ください. • Contrast: お + stem + する/いたす is the HUMBLE version for your own actions.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones お〜になる is tested against.
vs お〜する / お〜いたす
お〜する is HUMBLE (lowers your OWN action); お〜になる is HONORIFIC (elevates the OTHER person's action).
vs れる / られる (honorific)
The passive-form honorific (帰られる) is lighter and less formal than お帰りになる, which shows greater respect.
More honorific language
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