other N1 uncommon casualpolitewritten

〜ども — humble/derogatory pluralizing suffix for people

〜ども・ども

Meaning

plural suffix that lowers the group — humble for one's own side (私わたしども 'we'), or contemptuous toward others (野郎やろうども)

Key sentence

私わたしどもがご案内あんないいたします。

We will show you the way.

Formation

Attaches to	Form	Example
A noun or pronoun referring to people	N + ども	手前てまえども / 子供こどもども

When: Two opposite uses: as a humble plural for your own group (私わたしども is standard business 'we'), or as a scornful plural for others (〜ども 'those ~'). Tone depends entirely on whose side it marks.

Examples

私わたしどもの店みせをご利用りよういただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for using our shop.

敵てきどもを追おい払はらえ。

Drive the enemies away.

Easily confused with

〜方 Opposite politeness directions: 方 elevates a respected group, ども lowers one — humble for yourself or contemptuous toward others. たちたち is the neutral everyday plural. ども carries humility or contempt, so 私わたしども is more formally humble than 私わたしたち, and ども on others sounds dismissive.

See 〜ども in real sentences

Jengo shows 〜ども the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.

Study it in Jengo

Sources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Editorial confidence: medium.

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