尊敬
sonkei[sõ̞ŋke̞ː]
The English phrase 'respect' can be translated into Japanese as 尊敬 (sonkei). Wiktionary also lists 崇敬 (sūkei) and 尊重 (sonchō).
Meaning: admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 尊敬 | sonkei | [sõ̞ŋke̞ː] (narrow) |
| 崇敬 | sūkei | [sɨːke̞ː] (narrow) |
| 尊重 | sonchō | [sõ̞ɲ̟t͡ɕo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 重視 | jushi | [d͡ʑɨːɕi] (narrow) |
In Japanese, 尊敬 is most commonly used to describe the feeling of looking up to a mentor, a role model or a person of high character. 尊敬 is a formal word that translates to 'respect' and is used to express deep admiration.
Which one should you use?
尊敬 is used for admiring a person's character or achievements, whereas 尊重 is used for respecting rights, opinions or differences. 崇敬 is much stronger than 尊敬 and is typically reserved for religious figures, deities or extremely revered historical figures. 重視 is used when one 'respects' or 'values' a certain factor or priority in a decision-making process, rather than admiring a person.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
sonkei
Did you know?
- Japanese has many different levels of 'honorific' language, meaning that how you show respect through your words changes entirely based on the listener's social standing.
- In Japanese culture, the concept of 尊敬 is closely tied to 恩 or 'moral obligation'. Respect is often felt not just for merit, but as a response to a kindness or a debt of gratitude owed to a teacher.
- The character 尊 in both 尊敬 and 尊重 originally referred to a 'precious' or 'noble' object. It implies that the person or idea is of a higher spiritual or social rank than the speaker.
Examples in context
- 心から尊敬する。I really respect you.This sentence is useful for expressing deep respect for someone.Tatoeba #10913711 by small_snow, translation #3818132 by CK
- 尊敬する人はいますか。Is there anyone you respect?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's role models.Tatoeba #139559 by bunbuku, translation #13490470 by CK
- トムには尊敬しかない。I have nothing but respect for Tom.This sentence is useful for emphasizing the depth of your admiration.Tatoeba #10908941 by SomeHungryBois, translation #2360164 by CK
- 彼女は他の人々に対して常に敬意を払っています。She always shows respect to others.
- 私は彼を尊敬しています。I respect him.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daiki are talking about their favorite teacher.
- 陽葵 Himari先生への尊敬の気持ちが強いです。Sensei e no sonkei no kimochi ga tsuyoi desu.I have strong feelings of respect for the teacher.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕もそう思うよ。本当にすごい人だよね。Boku mo sou omou yo. Hontou ni sugoi hito da yone.I think so too. They are truly an amazing person.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔君も先生のことを尊敬しているんだね。Daiki-kun mo sensei no koto o sonkei shite iru nda ne.So you respect the teacher too, Daiki.
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、ずっと目標にしているんだ。Un, zutto mokuhyou ni shite iru nda.Yeah, I've always looked up to them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “respect” translations and entries 尊敬, 崇敬, 尊重, 重視, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
