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ございます (gozaimasu) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Be

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'ございます (gozaimasu) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Be'

Anna Baffa Volpe

The verb ございます (gozaimasu) means be, exist and is the polite form of the verb ある.

In this post we learn more about the meaning of ございます, how it is formed and when ございます is used through real example sentences.

We will also see the verb でございます which is another polite form of the copula だ (da).

How ございます is formed

The verb is generally written in Hiragana, but it also has a Kanji transcription:

御(ご)座(ざ)います and in its plain form 御(ご)座(ざ)る

「ございます」は、漢(かん)字(じ)で書(か)くと「御(ご)座(ざ)います」と書(が)き「存(そん)在(ざい)する」という意(い)味(み)がある動(どう)詞(し)です。

ございます is a verb that can be written in kanji as 御座います and it means to exist.

Different forms of the verb be, exist

  • The verb ある can be transcribed in kanji as 有(あ)る or 在(あ)る; its plain dictionary form means exist or be, and it is used in informal situations.
  • あります is the polite form of ある.
  • ございます is considered a Keigo form of speech, specifically 丁(てい)寧(ねい)語(ご), which is the language of politeness and formality, and it is more formal than あります.

「質(しつ)問(もん)があります。」

becomes

⇩

質(しつ)問(もん)がございます。

I have a question.

Subject+が+ございます

スケジュールに変(へん)更(こう)がございます。

There is a change in the schedule.

お聞(き)きしたいことがございます。

We would like to ask you some questions.

ございます form of respect

ございます as a form of the honorific language is used in place of あります, towards 目(め)上(うえ)の人(ひと) people considered superior in the social hierarchy.

We refer to our superiors in the company, to customers or older people.

お忘(わす)れ物(もの)はございませんか。

Have you forgotten anything?

One of the polite interrogative forms uses the negative form, in our case ございません and the interrogative particle か.

すみません、こちらの色(いろ)違(ちが)いの商(しょう)品(ひん)はございますか。

I'm sorry, do you have this item in a different color?

ございます as Auxiliary Verb

ございます also has the function of auxiliary combined with adjectives that form expressions of common use.

Using the い Adjective 有(あり)難(がた)い: grateful

有(あり)難(がと)うございます。

Thank you.

The past form of ございます is ございました.

有難がとうございました** is used when we want to express gratitude for something received in a past time, prior to the moment of speaking.

早(さっ)速(そく)のご返(へん)事(じ)、ありがとうございました。

Thank you very much for your prompt reply.

Form of greeting using 早(はや)い: early, fast, quick

お早(はよ)うございます。

Good morning.

申(もう)し訳(わけ)ございません。

I'm sorry.

In this form we find:

  • 申(もう)し訳(わけ) noun meaning apology
  • ございません: negative form of ございます

⇨ there are no excuses

です and でございます

でございます replaces the copula です in a formal context that requires the use of the honorific language.

でございます is more polite than です and ます and is used more frequently by women or by salespeople towards customers.

Inside a デパート (depāto), which is a department store in Japan, you might hear the following announcement:

婦(ふ)人(じん)服(ふく)売(う)り場(ば)は3階(かい)でございます。

The women's clothing department is on the 3rd floor.

Or when we introduce ourselves:

初(はじ)めまして、ウォルマート社(しゃ)のジョンソンでございます。

Nice to meet you, this is Johnson from Walmart.

Examples of ございます

Interrogative form ございますか:

明日(あした)の予(よ)定(てい)はございますか。

Do you have any plans for tomorrow?

こちらの商(しょう)品(ひん)は在(ざい)庫(こ)がございます。

This item is in stock.

お手(て)洗(あら)いは2階(かい)にございます。

The restroom is on the second floor.

Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚

させられる・せられる

させられる・せられる (saserareru serareru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Ｔo Be Made To Do Something

ないで～なくて

ないで～なくて (naide / nakute) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Without Doing

ないで

ないで (naide) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Without Doing

など

など (nado) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Etc

必要がある

必要がある (hitsuyou ga aru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Need

必要だ

必要だ (Hitsuyou da) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Need