How to Say ‘Do (polite)’ in Japanese
します
shi masu
[shee mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: [します] is the polite “do.” Pair with a noun: [通勤します] = “I commute.” [電車で通勤します] = “I commute by train.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese often uses noun + [します] for “do” actions, which is common in workplace speech.
Phrase Breakdown
し
shi
[shee]
do; decide; handle (polite)
Stem of する (to do), used with ます for polite speech. Often used in interview questions: どうしますか (What will you do?/How will you handle it?).
通勤は電車でし ます。
I commute by train.
ます
masu
[mahss]
(polite verb ending) -ます
Polite ending that makes statements suitable for formal settings like job interviews.
必要なら残業もし ます。
If necessary, I will also do overtime.
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