「お見えになる」- Honorific Form of "To Come"

Explanation

「お見えになる」 (おみえになる) is the honorific form of 「来る」 (くる), used to show respect for someone's actions, particularly when referring to the arrival of a guest. This phrase is commonly used in formal settings or service industries to express politeness and respect towards guests, superiors, and others.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
お見えになる	Respected person + が + お見えになる	This phrase is used to indicate the arrival of a respected person.

Basic Usage

「お見えになる」 is a verb phrase that serves as the honorific form of "to come." The subject is usually a respected person, such as a guest, client, or superior.

Examples

• お客様きゃくさまがお見えになりました。
• Okyakusama ga o-mie ni narimashita.
• The guest has arrived.
  

Deep Dive

Basic Structure

The basic structure of this phrase is:

• [Respected person] + が + お見えになる

For example:

• 先生せんせいがお見えになります。
• Sensei ga o-mie ni narimasu.
• The teacher has arrived.
  

Usage Scenarios

• 「お見えになる」 is primarily used in formal settings, such as company receptions, meetings, or banquets. It is used to show respect and importance when a respected person arrives.

Comparison with Other Honorifics

「お見えになる」 differs from other honorific forms of "to come," such as 「いらっしゃる」 and 「お越しになる」, in terms of specific usage and subtle nuances:

Honorific Form	Usage Scenario	Example	English Translation
お見えになる	Formal settings, indicating the arrival of a respected person	お客様きゃくさまがお見えになりました。	The guest has arrived.
いらっしゃる	Most widely used honorific, suitable for various scenarios	社長しゃちょうがいらっしゃいました。	The president has arrived.
お越しになる	Often used when inviting or expecting someone to come	明日あしたの会議かいぎにお越しください。	Please attend tomorrow's meeting.

Specific Usage of 「お見えになる」

• Used to confirm a guest's arrival:
• お客様きゃくさまがお見えになりました。
• Okyakusama ga o-mie ni narimashita.
• The guest has arrived.
  
• Used in reception settings:
• お取引先とりひきさきの方かたがお見えになりました。
• O-torihikisaki no kata ga o-mie ni narimashita.
• The client has arrived.
  

Real-Life Scenarios

Here are some examples from real-life conversations to help understand the usage of 「お見えになる」:

At the Company Reception:

• Receptionist: お客様きゃくさまがお見えになりました。
• Okyakusama ga o-mie ni narimashita.
• Staff: ありがとうございます。すぐにお迎えします。
• Arigatou gozaimasu. Sugu ni o-mukae shimasu.
• The guest has arrived.
• Thank you. I will go and greet them right away.
  

In the Meeting Room:

• Assistant: 社長しゃちょうがお見えになりました。
• Shachou ga o-mie ni narimashita.
• Manager: 了解しました。お通しください。
• Ryoukai shimashita. O-toushi kudasai.
• The president has arrived.
• Understood. Please show them in.
  

At a Banquet:

• Waiter: 田中たなかさんがお見えになりました。
• Tanaka-san ga o-mie ni narimashita.
• Host: ありがとうございます。席へご案内ください。
• Arigatou gozaimasu. Seki e go-annai kudasai.
• Mr. Tanaka has arrived.
• Thank you. Please guide him to his seat.
  

Comparison and Differences

• The difference between 「お見えになる」 and 「いらっしゃる」 is that the former is more formal, while the latter is used in a wider range of scenarios.

Summary

「お見えになる」 is an important Japanese phrase for expressing respect and politeness, primarily used in formal settings to refer to the arrival of a respected person. Mastering its usage can significantly enhance politeness and professionalism in Japanese communication.