How to say "went" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- expressionRespectful (sonkeigo) 'went' for someone you honor, such as a teacher or customer; a less common word, not the plain everyday verb. It also covers 'came' and 'was/were (somewhere)', so context decides the sense.
- expressionAn especially deferential respectful form for someone's going, coming, or being somewhere — typically a highly honored guest. Uncommon and normally written in kana; seldom the word you want for plain 'went'.
Both are uncommon sonkeigo forms meaning that a respected person went, came, or was somewhere; use 「いらした」 for ordinary respectful speech and 「おいでなすった」 for extra deference, never for plain 'went'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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