「お／ご～になる」- Honorific Form

Explanation

Grammar: お + Group 1 verb masu-stem / Group 2 verb masu-stem + になる
ご + Group 3 verb stem + になる
This grammar is used to show respect for someone else's actions, often meaning "has done" or "has completed."

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
お／ご～になる	お + Group 1 verb masu-stem / Group 2 verb masu-stem + になる ご + Group 3 verb stem + になる	This grammar is used to show respect for someone else's actions, often meaning "has done" or "has completed."

Basic Usage

• Honorific Form:
  Used to show respect for someone else's actions.

  • Example:
    • 社長しゃちょうはもうお帰かえりになりました。
    • Shachou wa mou o-kaeri ni narimashita.
    • The president has already gone home.

• Expressing Time:
  When asking about the time an action was completed, note that "いつ" does not require "と," but "何時" requires "に."

  • Example:
    • いつお出発しゅっぱつになりましたか？
    • Itsu o-shuppatsu ni narimashita ka?
    • When did you depart?

Examples

• 先生せんせいはもうお帰かえりになりました。
• Sensei wa mou o-kaeri ni narimashita.
• The teacher has already gone home.
  
• 先生せんせい，お昼ひるご飯ごはんはもうお召めし上がりになりましたか？
• Sensei, o-hiru gohan wa mou o-meshiagari ni narimashita ka?
• Teacher, have you already had lunch?
  
• はい、もうお食たべになりました。
• Hai, mou o-tabe ni narimashita.
• Yes, I have already eaten.

Summary

The honorific form お／ご～になる is used in Japanese to show respect for someone else's actions, especially when describing completed actions. Mastering its usage and nuances will help you express politeness and respect more accurately in everyday conversations.