申し上げる・申上げる・申しあげる|もうしあげるmoushiageru[5]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto say; to tell; to state; to express; to offer; to extend (greetings, congratulations, etc.)
   お礼れいの申し上もうしあげようもありません。↗

   I can never thank you enough.
2. ichidan verb, auxiliary verbto doafter a word beginning with お- or ご-

• Synonym言ういうNeutralThe plain, all-purpose word for 'say'. It carries no respect; 「申し上げる」 is humble language that honors the person you are addressing.
• Synonym言い表すいいあらわすWrittenWritten-style word for putting something into words, as in 「言葉では言い表せない」. No respect is shown; it is about expression, not deference.
• Synonym申すもうすFormalRespectful word for referring to your own side's actions, as in 「田中と申します」. 「申し上げる」 is humble language that raises up the person spoken to.
• Synonym話すはなすNeutralThe everyday word for talking with someone, as in 「友達と話す」. It shows no respect and centers on the exchange itself.
• Synonym述べるのべるWrittenWritten-style word for stating something, as in 「意見を述べる」. It suggests laying out your point in an organized way.
• Synonym語るかたるWrittenWritten-style word for telling of experiences or thoughts, as in 「夢を語る」. It evokes unhurried, heartfelt narration.
• Synonym申し述べるもうしのべるFormalHumble language for stating something solemnly, as in 「意見を申し述べる」. It centers on making a formal statement, more so than 「申し上げる」.
• Synonym物申すものもうすWrittenTo voice an opinion or objection to some party, as in 「政府に物申す」. In modern use it usually carries a note of protest.
• SynonymのたまうFormalHonorific for a superior or deity speaking. Today it often appears sarcastically, mocking someone who acts high and mighty.
• Synonym仰せられるおおせられるFormalHonorific for a superior's words — the direction is opposite to 「申し上げる」, which humbles your own speech instead.
• Synonym啓上けいじょうFormalHumble epistolary term for respectfully stating something, as in 「一筆啓上」. Found almost only in letters.
• Synonym言上ごんじょうFormalHumble word for reporting something to a superior, as in 「お礼を言上する」. It has an old-fashioned flavor.
• Synonym物言うものいうNeutralTo open one's mouth and speak, as in 「物言わぬ」. Mostly seen in the negative; the point is whether one speaks up at all.
• RelatedしゃべるCasualColloquial: to chat or talk a lot, as in 「よく喋る人」. In formal settings, switch to 「申し上げる」 or 「お話しする」 when speaking of yourself.
• Related物語るものがたるWrittenWritten-style word for telling a story, or for a fact that makes something clear, as in 「事実が物語る」.
• Related発するはっするWrittenWritten-style word for emitting sound or issuing something, as in 「警告を発する」. The focus is on sending something out.
• Related言い出すいいだすNeutralTo be the one to bring something up first, as in 「別れを言い出す」. The emphasis is on opening the topic, not on respect.
• Related言い立てるいいたてるNeutralTo list things one by one or insist on a claim, as in 「欠点を言い立てる」.
• Antonym申し下すFormalAntonym in direction: a superior announcing downward. Extremely rare and virtually unused in modern Japanese.

To say something to someone humbly, 「申し上げる」 is the default. Use 「申す」 for a respectful self-introduction like 「田中と申します」, and 「申し述べる」 when solemnly stating your views. In letters, 「啓上」 fits. For everyday speech with no deference, plain 「言う」 or 「話す」 is right, and when the other, higher person speaks, use 「仰せられる」.

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

1. 「言ゆう」。発話はつわを向むける相手あいてを敬うやまう。
2. 「する」。話し手はなしての行為こういを表あらわす動詞どうしの連用形れんようけいに「お」を前置ぜんち、または話し手はなしての行為こういを表あらわす名詞めいしに多おおくの場合ばあい「御ご」を前置ぜんちし、さらにその名詞めいしに後置こうちして、その行為こういを働はたらきかける相手あいて、または行為こういの対象たいしょうとなる相手あいてを敬うやまう。いたす。してさしあげる。