other N4 common politewritten sonkeigo (respectful)
〜方 — polite pluralizing suffix for people
〜方 ・ がた
Meaning
- polite plural suffix for people — the respectful version of たち, used for groups you elevate
Key sentence
先生方がお見えになりました。
The teachers have arrived.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A noun or pronoun referring to people you respect | N + 方 | あなた方 / お客様方 |
When: Honorific (sonkeigo). Use only for groups you elevate — guests, teachers, customers, an audience. Never for your own in-group; pluralise yourself with たち or humble ども instead.
Examples
ご来賓の方々にご挨拶申し上げます。
I would like to greet our distinguished guests.
あなた方のご協力に感謝します。
Thank you all for your cooperation.
Easily confused with
たち たち is the plain, neutral plural for anyone. 方 raises the group's status, so it's reserved for people you respect; using たち for honored guests would sound too plain. 〜ども Opposite directions of politeness: 方 elevates others, while ども lowers the group — humble for your own side (私ども) or contemptuous toward others.
See 〜方 in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜方 the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Editorial confidence: medium.