ございます (gozaimasu) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Be
Anna Baffa Volpe
Get in touch with me5 min reading time
Anna Baffa Volpe
5 min reading time
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:
御座います and in its plain form 御座る
「ございます」は、漢字で書くと「御座います」と書き「存在する」という意味がある動詞です。
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 有る or 在る; its plain dictionary form means
existorbe, 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 丁寧語, which is the language of politeness and formality, and it is more formal than あります.
「質問があります。」
becomes
⇩
質問がございます。
I have a question.
スケジュールに変更がございます。
There is a change in the schedule.
お聞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 目上の人 people considered superior in the social hierarchy.
We refer to our superiors in the company, to customers or older people.
お忘れ物はございませんか。
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、こちらの色違いの商品はございますか。
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 有難い: grateful
有難うございます。
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.
早速のご返事、ありがとうございました。
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
Form of greeting using 早い: early, fast, quick
お早うございます。
Good morning.
申し訳ございません。
I'm sorry.
In this form we find:
- 申し訳 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:
婦人服売り場は3階でございます。
The women's clothing department is on the 3rd floor.
Or when we introduce ourselves:
初めまして、ウォルマート社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:
明日の予定はございますか。
Do you have any plans for tomorrow?
こちらの商品は在庫がございます。
This item is in stock.
お手洗いは2階にございます。
The restroom is on the second floor.
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