How to say "gentlemen" in Japanese

• 殿方とのがた
  nounCovers 'gentlemen; men' as a respectful reference to men, and it is characteristically used by female speakers; a woman might use it to refer politely to the men present.
  こちらの殿方とのがたにビールを差し上さしあげてください。↗

  Please bring this gentleman a glass of beer.
• 諸子しょし
  nounIts main senses are 'you' and '(all of) you or them,' making it a form of address; as a rendering of 'gentlemen' it is marginal — seldom the word you want.
• 殿御とのご
  nounA less common word meaning simply 'gentlemen'; you will rarely need to produce it, and recognizing it when you meet it matters more than using it yourself.
• 謹啓きんけい
  interjection, nounThis covers 'Gentlemen' only as a salutation: it is a respectful opening used at the head of formal letters, equivalent to 'Dear Sirs,' not a way to refer to men in speech.
• 諸賢しょけん
  nounCovers 'gentlemen' as a way of addressing a group — '(all of) you' — casting the addressees as 'various wise individuals'; it suits address to an audience rather than casual reference to men.

For men referred to respectfully, use 殿方; for salutations in letters, 謹啓; for addressing an audience, 諸賢; 諸子 and 殿御 are less common alternatives you will seldom need.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 殿方とのがたgentlemen
• 諸子しょしgentlemen
• 殿御とのごgentlemen
• 謹啓きんけいDear Sir or Madam
• 諸賢しょけん(all of) you or them
• 旦那衆だんなしゅうgents
• 諸君しょくんgentlemen