How to Say ‘Polite form of いる / be (humble)’ in Japanese
おります
ori masu
[oh-ree mahs]
💬 Usage Tip: [おります] is a more polite, humble version of [います]. In service Japanese, staff often use it for their own actions, as in [お待ちしております] or [お電話しております].
🇯🇵 In Japan: This sounds very standard and professional from staff to customers. You would not usually use [おります] about yourself in casual conversation with friends.
Phrase Breakdown
おり
ori
[oh-ree]
be; exist; humbly be
A humble form of いる, used in polite customer service speech to mean be or exist.
スタッフがおり、ご案内できます。
A staff member is here, so we can guide you.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
The polite ending attached to verbs to make speech formal, common in restaurants and customer service.
席が空いています。
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