Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 御列席の皆様 | go-resseki no minasama |
| 御来場の皆様 | go-raijō no minasama |
In Japanese, rather than using a literal translation that mentions "men and women," speakers address an audience by referring to their presence or attendance. The term 皆様 is a respectful and inclusive way to address a group of people, making it the equivalent of "ladies and gentlemen" in English.
Which one should you use?
The two forms differ based on the setting: 御列席の皆様 is used for formal seated events such as weddings or banquets, meaning "honored guests in attendance." In contrast, 御来場の皆様 is used for people attending a specific venue, such as a concert or an exhibition.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a highly polite and formal audience, use 皆様 or 御列席の皆様. For addressing a group in a relatively casual or friendly manner, みなさん is commonly used. Another formal expression used to address a group is 各位.
How do you pronounce it?
go-resseki no minasama
Did you know?
- The character 皆 in 皆様 originally depicted a roof over a group of people. This visual root emphasizes the idea of a collective group gathered under one shelter, fitting for the 'attendance' focus of these phrases.
- While 皆様 is the standard for 'everyone', the word 各位 is used in written formal notices. It is so respectful that it is grammatically incorrect to add another honorific like 様 after it, as it already contains the meaning of 'honored person'.
- The prefix 御 in 御列席 and 御来場 is a 'beautifier' known as 美化語. It does not change the meaning of the word but signals that the speaker is treating the audience's presence as something precious.
Examples in context
- 皆様、おはようございます。Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
- 御列席の皆様、本日はありがとうございます。Go-resseki no minasama, honjitsu wa arigatou gozaimasu.Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today.
- 御列席の皆様、拍手をお願いします。Go-resseki no minasama, hakushu o onegaishimasu.Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause.
- 御列席の皆様、どうぞお席にお着きください。Go-resseki no minasama, douzo o-seki ni otsuki kudasai.Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
Example conversation
Hiyori is practicing a speech for a formal event with Kenta.
- 健太 Kenta練習を始めてみようか。Renshuu o hajime te miyou ka.Shall we start practicing?
- 陽葵 Himariはい。御列席の皆様、本日はお集まりいただき感謝いたします。Hai. Goretsuseki no minasama, honjitsu wa oatsumari itadaki kansha itashimasu.Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful that you have gathered here today.
- 健太 Kenta今の挨拶はとても丁寧でいいと思うよ。Ima no aisatsu wa totemo teinei de ii to omou yo.I think that greeting was very polite and good.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。自信がつきました。Arigatou gozaimasu. Jishin ga tsukimashita.Thank you. I feel more confident now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ladies and gentlemen” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
