How to say "respectful" in Japanese

• 手厚いてあついCommon
  i-adjectiveCovers 'respectful' in the sense of warm, attentive treatment — a respectful reception, welcome or care. It describes how kindly and generously someone is treated, not a respectful attitude.
  クック船長せんちょうはその原住民げんじゅうみん達たちの手厚てあついもてなしに感謝かんしゃした。↗

  Captain Cook thanked the natives for their hospitality.
• 恭しいうやうやしい
  i-adjectiveThe safest general choice for 'respectful' as an attitude or manner: polite, reverent conduct toward someone or something held in esteem. It describes how a person behaves, not how they are treated.
• 粛しゅく
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Means solemn and reverent; in practice it appears almost solely in the adverbial phrase 粛として ('solemnly, reverently'), and is seldom the word you want for ordinary 'respectful'.
• 礼やかいややか
  na-adjectiveA less common word for polite, respectful bearing or behavior, close in meaning to 恭しい. When 'respectful' describes an attitude, 恭しい is the safer choice; this word is seldom encountered.
• 鞠躬如きっきゅうじょ
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)A rare expression for a deferential, humble, reverent bearing — respect shown through humble conduct. For saying 'respectful' it is only marginal; you will seldom, if ever, need it.

For warm, hospitable treatment choose 「手厚い」; for a polite, reverent attitude or manner choose 「恭しい」; 粛, 「礼やか」 and 鞠躬如 are rarer alternatives covering solemn, reverent or deferential shades that learners seldom need.

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

• 手厚いてあついwarm (treatment, reception, etc.)
• 恭しいうやうやしいpolite
• 粛しゅくsolemn
• 礼やかいややかpolite
• 鞠躬如きっきゅうじょdeferential
• かしこまったformal