食べる vs 召し上がる
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 食べる
Listen to 召し上がる
| 食べる | 召し上がる |
|---|---|
ta-BE-ru verb (ichidan/ru-verb) | めしあがる (meshiagaru) verb (ichidan/ru-verb) |
| to eat | to eat (honorific/polite) |
How they differ
召し上がる is the honorific equivalent used when talking to or about someone of higher status eating; unlike 食べる, it elevates the subject and is not used for oneself.
When to use each
When to use 食べる: Use 食べる for neutral descriptions of eating or when talking about yourself in ordinary situations.
When to use 召し上がる: Use 召し上がる when politely addressing or describing the actions of someone you should show respect to (e.g., a customer, elder, or superior).
Side-by-side examples
- お客さんは夕飯を食べる。
(The customer eats dinner.) - お客さんは夕飯を召し上がる。
(The customer eats dinner (honorific).)
Register & nuance: Honorific (尊敬語); polite and used toward or about people of higher status—unsuitable for self-reference.