How to tell them apart
お〜になる raises the person you are talking about, while お〜する lowers your own action to show politeness to the listener. The key is whose action it is: if the verb is someone else's, use お〜になる (先生がお読みになる); if the verb is your own action that affects the listener, use お〜する (私がお話しする). Swapping them reverses the respect direction and sounds unnatural.
- おになる Use お〜になる when describing someone else's action or state to show respect.
- おする Use お〜する when describing your own action that involves or affects the listener.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| おになる oninaru | Respectful (honorific) way of phrasing an action | N4 |
| おする osuru | Respectful humble way of saying する | N4 |
おになる oninaru
Respectful (honorific) way of phrasing an action
お～になる elevates the actions of a superior, such as a teacher, customer, or guest, to show respect. It is formed with お plus the masu stem of a verb plus になる, as in お帰りになる or お読みになる. The になる part conjugates for tense and politeness, for example お帰りになりました. It should never describe your own actions, and many common verbs use special honorifics like いらっしゃる instead.
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ご主人は本日お見えになるでしょう。
I believe he'll be with us today.
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おいでになるのを楽しみにしています。
I'm looking forward to your visit.
おする osuru
Respectful humble way of saying する
O + verb stem + する expresses a humble action that the speaker does for a superior, such as carrying luggage or calling someone. It is formed with お plus the masu stem of a Group 1 or Group 2 verb plus する, as in お持ちします, and with お plus the noun in a suru verb, as in お電話します. Use it only for your own actions, never to describe what a teacher or customer does, and remember that the humble equivalent of する itself is いたす.
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来週お会いするのを楽しみにしています。
I'm looking forward to seeing you next week.
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荷物をお持ちします。
I'll carry your bags for you.
おになる and おする are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.