History Main / FormalCharactersUseKeigo

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* ''Literature/TheCaseFilesOfJewelerRichard'': Richard's Japanese with customers is ''extremely'' formal and polite to match his behavior and upperclass background, along with his ever-present suits, although the formality drops off some when he speaks to characters like Seigi more casually and even swears in English at his own cousins.

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In Japanese media, ''keigo'' speech may mark a character as, among other traits, refined, old-fashioned, polite, or mild-mannered. The {{Ojou}}, YamatoNadeshiko, {{Meido}}, and {{Samurai}} characters are all likely ''keigo'' speakers. It might also be deliberately adopted by people seeking to sound deferential, as in high-class service sector workers. People from Kansai are also prone to using ''keigo'' in situations where Kanto speakers would deem it unnecessary, especially speakers from Kyoto.

** Main character Tohru Honda's most notable quirk is how she always speaks very politely, even to people she's close to or in situations where it's unnecessary. One brief scene even has her sigh and then add "desu" out of habit. While this reflects her humble nature, she also does this deliberately since her father Katsuya also had polite speech patterns, and since he died when she was three, it's one of the few things she remembers about him. In the dub, this is adapted as her speaking as though she was a parent or significant other. [[spoiler:She also deliberately picked up these speech patterns as a way to keep Kyoko from leaving her, since she secretly resents Katsuya as Kyoko's grief over his death made her neglect Tohru for a time and almost commit suicide]].

** Subverted with Motoko Minagawa, who speaks in an extremely polite manner, which emphasizes her haughty personality. However, despite behaving like an arrogant {{Ojou}} stereotype, she's not from a wealthy or influential family, since her parents run a produce store.

* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'': Tohru's most notable quirk is how she always speaks very politely, even to people she's close to or in situations where it's unnecessary. One brief scene even has her sigh and then add "desu" out of habit. While this reflects her humble nature, she also does this deliberately since her father Katsuya also had polite speech patterns, and since he died when she was three, it's one of the few things she remembers about him. In the dub, this is adapted as her speaking as though she was a parent or significant other. [[spoiler:She also deliberately picked up these speech patterns as a way to keep Kyoko from leaving her, since she secretly resents Katsuya as Kyoko's grief over his death made her neglect Tohru for a time and almost commit suicide]].

* ''Literature/TheCaseFilesOfJewelerRichard'': Richard's Japanese with customers is ''extremely'' formal and polite to match his behavior and upperclass background, along with his ever-present suits, although the formality drops off some when he speaks to characters like Seigi more casually and even swears in English at his own cousins.

This form of speech is sometimes [[AccentAdaptation rendered in various dubs]] as British English (usually Received Pronunciation) or European Spanish, if it is the defining trait of a character. Another option might be AntiquatedLinguistics (vaguely Victorian English) and FloweryElizabethanEnglish (vaguely Elizabethan English), which are independently used as speech patterns for old-timey Anglosphere characters. Contrast TheIdiotFromOsaka, where dumb comic relief characters sound like they're from Kansai.

''Keigo'' (敬語) -- with 敬 (''kei'') meaning "honor" and 語 (''go'') meaning "speech" or "language" -- is a Japanese speech register containing the language's more polite forms of address. It is used in formal and ceremonial circumstances, and in certain cases when those of lower social position are addressing those higher-up. For example, shop clerks generally address customers using ''keigo'' forms. (A few ''keigo'' phrases are used in daily conversation as well.)

In Japanese media, ''keigo'' speech may mark a character as, among other traits, refined, old-fashioned, polite, or mild-mannered. The {{Ojou}}, YamatoNadeshiko, {{Meido}}, and {{Samurai}} characters are all likely ''keigo'' speakers. It might also be deliberately adopted by people seeking to sound deferential, as in high-class service sector workers. People from {{Kansai|RegionalAccent}} are also prone to using ''keigo'' in situations where Kanto speakers would deem it unnecessary, especially speakers from Kyoto.

* ''Anime/LoveLiveNijigasakiHighSchoolIdolClub'': Even when she's at her most energetic, Setsuna Yuki's Japanese speech patterns are always polite, consistently using formal verbs. [[spoiler:This reflects that, despite her cheerful and geeky personality, she's still an Ojou from a strict household]].

In Japanese media, ''keigo'' speech may mark a character as, among other traits, refined, old-fashioned, or polite and mild-mannered. The {{Ojou}}, YamatoNadeshiko, {{Meido}}, and {{Samurai}} characters are all likely ''keigo'' speakers. It might also be deliberately adopted by people seeking to sound deferential, as in high-class service sector workers. People from {{Kansai|RegionalAccent}} are also prone to using ''keigo'' in situations where Kanto speakers would deem it unnecessary, especially speakers from Kyoto.

* ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'':: Peorth's speech pattern in the original Japanese is rather antiquated and polite, used in RealLife only by upper-class women raised before UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, thus extremely unfitting for a girl who looks and dresses like her. Studio Proteus/Dark Horse opted to translate this by having her [[AccentAdaptation speak French]].

* ''Franchise/LoveLive'': Even when she's at her most energetic, Setsuna Yuki's Japanese speech patterns are always polite, consistently using formal verbs. [[spoiler:This reflects that, despite her cheerful and geeky personality, she's still an Ojou from a strict household]].

* ''Manga/BlackBullet'': Seitenshi in very formal linguistics (highlighting her authority as ruler of the Tokyo Area), and also uses the very formal first-person pronoun "watakushi" in the Japanese version when referring to herself.

* ''Manga/BlackButler'': Seitenshi in very formal linguistics (highlighting her authority as ruler of the Tokyo Area), and also uses the very formal first-person pronoun "watakushi" in the Japanese version when referring to herself.

* ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'': In 0, Goro uses keigo on the clock. He swaps seamlessly from immaculately mannered host to scowling ex-yakuza within the space of a few seconds in several instances.

This form of speech is sometimes [[AccentAdaptation rendered in various dubs]] as British English (usually Received Pronunciation) or European Spanish, if it is the defining trait of a character.

Compare AntiquatedLinguistics (vaguely Victorian English) and FloweryElizabethanEnglish (vaguely Elizabethan English) as speech patterns for old-timey Anglosphere characters. Contrast TheIdiotFromOsaka, where dumb comic relief characters sound like they're from Kansai.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'': Trickier to spot in the translated versions, but Amiti does speak more politely and formally than most other characters, to reflect his upbringing as nobility. This also makes his [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] MetaGuy moments more amusing. '''has some context'''

In Japanese media, ''keigo'' speech may mark a character as, among other traits, refined, old-fashioned, or polite and mild-mannered. The {{Ojou}}, YamatoNadeshiko, {{Meido}}, and {{Samurai}} characters are all likely ''keigo'' speakers. People from {{Kansai|RegionalAccent}} are also prone to using ''keigo'' in situations where Kanto speakers would deem it unnecessary, especially speakers from Kyoto.

# Characters/ShurikenSentaiNinningerTheIgasakiClan (Kasumi Momochi) /{{Keigo}}: To emphasize her ProperLady personality. She calls her cousin by nicknames, but still talking very politely, even when excited or after becoming a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} due to a MOTW. '''has some context'''
# Characters/FruitsBasketTohruHonda /{{Keigo}}: Tohru's most notable quirk is how she always speaks very politely, even to people she's close to or in situations where it's unnecessary. One brief scene even has her sigh and then add "desu" out of habit. While this reflects her humble nature, she also does this deliberately since her father Katsuya also had polite speech patterns, and since he died when she was three, it's one of the few things she remembers about him. In the dub, this is adapted as her speaking as though she was a parent or significant other. [[spoiler:She also deliberately picked up these speech patterns as a way to keep Kyoko from leaving her, since she secretly resents Katsuya as Kyoko's grief over his death made her neglect Tohru for a time and almost commit suicide]]. '''has context'''
# Characters/GoPrincessPrettyCurePrincessPrettyCures (Cure Scarlet) /{{Keigo}}: As expected of a princess, she's polite to whomever she speaks to. However, she's also very, very formal at all times, even with her close friends/fellow Cures. '''has some context'''
# Characters/LikeADragonGoroMajima /{{Keigo}}: Only in 0, and even than only when he's on the clock and on the floor. He swaps seamlessly from immaculately mannered host to scowling ex-yakuza within the space of a few seconds in several instances. '''has some context'''
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* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'': Chiyo's speech patterns in Japanese are generally much more polite than the other characters'. This highlights both her [[{{Ojou}} wealthy upbringing]] and her [[AdorablyPrecociousChild precocious nature]]. '''has some context'''

# Characters/{{Classmates}} (Hikaru Kusakabe) /{{Keigo}}: He normally uses informal speech, so it stands out when he uses this with Sajou's parents (though he uses more relaxed speech with Kumi by the time blanc rolls around.) '''has some context'''
# Characters/HighSchoolDxDIsseiPeerage (Rossweisse) /AccentSlipUp: She usually speaks in {[Keigo}}, but slips into a country accent when she's talking to her grandmother or embarrassed. '''has some context'''
# Characters/LoveLiveNijiGaku (Setsuna Yuki) /{{Keigo}}: Even when she's at her most energetic, her Japanese speech patterns are always polite, consistently using formal verbs. [[spoiler:This reflects that, despite her cheerful and geeky personality, she's still an Ojou from a strict household]]. '''has some context'''
# Characters/TalesOfHearts (Paraiba Marine De Rais) /{{Keigo}}: An early hint about her identity is the use of polite speech and the archaic pronoun "watakushi", usually reserved for high society. '''has some context'''
# Characters/GoldenSunProtagonists (Amiti) /{{Keigo}}: Trickier to spot in the translated versions, but Amiti does speak more politely and formally than most other characters, to reflect his upbringing as nobility. This also makes his [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] MetaGuy moments more amusing. '''has some context'''
# Characters/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaSupportingCharacters (Hitomi Shizuki) /{{Keigo}}: Not normally, but in Episode 4 she lapses into a weird bout of extremely formal speech, even calling Madoka "[[LastNameBasis Kaname]]-san." [[spoiler:It's due to the influence of the episode's witch]]. '''has some context'''