ございます
🃏 Flashcard
ございます
gozaimasu
Tap to reveal usage
to be, to exist (polite form of いる/ある)
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
gozaimasu
Post ID
50698
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
to be, to exist (polite form of いる/ある)
📖 How to use it
This is a very polite way to say 'to be' or 'to exist,' used in formal speech and writing.
Attaches to
As a polite copula, it attaches directly to nouns or na-adjective stems with で (でございます). For i-adjectives, it attaches to the く-form (e.g., よろしくございます). It is not used with verbs.
ございます is a humble and polite form of ある (to exist) and です (to be). It is used in very formal situations such as business speech, announcements, or when speaking to customers or superiors. For example, instead of saying あります, you might say ございます to be extra polite. For nouns and na-adjectives, use でございます: こちらは会議室でございます. For i-adjectives, use the く-form plus ございます: ありがとうございます (from ありがたい). Note that ございます is not used for people or animals; for living things, you use おります or いらっしゃいます in polite speech.
こちらが新製品のカタログでございます。
Kochira ga shinseihin no katarogu de gozaimasu.
This is the catalog for our new product.
ありがとうございます。
Arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.
駅はあそこにございます。
Eki wa asoko ni gozaimasu.
The station is over there.
Not です/あります
ございます is more formal and polite than です/あります. Use です/あります in everyday conversation; use ございます in formal contexts like talking to customers or in official announcements.
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Very formal and polite; used in business, service, and formal written language, not in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ございます
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ございます three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ございます. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ございます mean?
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To be, to exist (polite form of いる/ある)
What JLPT level is ございます?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ございます in a sentence?
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Attach ございます (gozaimasu) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ございます formal or casual Japanese?
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ございます is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember ございます long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.