お・ご

Level: N5

Game Location: ハコタテ お皿 Ward

Explanation:

The main point:

お・ご is a prefix put in front of some nouns to make them seem more formal or important.

In-depth:

• Some words only get the prefix in certain formal settings.
• 確認　(かくにん、confirmation) becomes ご確認 in formal situations
• お・ご is often only used in these situations when referring to a noun that relates to someone else.
• If you are confirming something, just use 確認
• If someone else is confirming something, use ご確認
• The self vs. others difference in grammar is an important distinction in formal Japanese that we will analyze more going forward.
• Some words always have the prefix, regardless of setting or vocabulary.
• ご飯 (ごはん、cooked rice) always has the ご. It is never just 飯

Example Sentences:

ご飯です。(ごはんです、(It is) cook rice.)

お金じゃない。(おかねじゃない、(It is not) money.).