もしもしは敬語(けいご)?―Moshi-moshi is a term of respect?

もしもし？

Do you know where 「もしもし」(MOSHI-MOSHI) comes from?

Many of you may know how to use もしもし. It is used when you begin to speak to somebody, especially on the phone.

「もしもし、田中(たなか)さんのお宅(おたく)ですか。」 （電話(でんわ)で）

Hello, is this Mr. Takaka’s residence? (on the phone)

落とし物 (おとしもの) は交番 (こうばん) に届けられます。: Lost properties are reported to the local police office.

「もしもし、ハンカチが落ちました(おちました)よ。」 （通り(とおり)で）

Excuse me, you seem to drop a handkerchief. (on the street)

Because the sound is funny and it involves no kanjis, you may have learnt it easily. But do you know where it came from?

It came from 申す(もうす):

申す(もうす) → 申し(もうし) → もうし → もうしもうし → もしもし

申す(もうす) is used to mean that a person in a lower position says something to someone in a higher position. It’s a polite form of 言う(いう).

申し(もうし) is the form when you make a compound or say 申し(もうし)ます, 申し(もうし)上げ(あげ)ます, 申し(もうし)訳(わけ)ありません, etc.

もしもし、落とし物 (おとしもの) をしましたよ。: Excuse me, you dropped something.

Then 申し(もうし)申し(もうし) was coined to mean a calling like, “Hello, I’d like to speak to you.” Finally, the reduction occurred and it was transformed to もしもし.

Let’s have a look at the word 申す(もうす), the honorific language of 言う(いう), and some of its compounds in detail here.

申す(もうす)

When you speak to a person in a higher position or rank, you’ll need to use 申す(もうす). This is the honorific form of 言う(いう).

Do not confuse 「おっしゃる」 with 「申す(もうす)」.

おっしゃる is used when you describe that someone in a higher position says something; you raise someone up.

「中村(なかむら)と申し(もうし)ます。」

I am Nakamura. (Literally, “I say I am Nakamura.)

It is important for the Japanese to exchange name cards 名刺 (めいし). One of the reasons may be that we don't know how to write the name when we only hear their names. The Japanese might not be good at memorizing the names only by sound.

「先生(せんせい)がそうおっしゃるなら、何(なに)も申す(もうす)ことはございません。」

I have nothing to say if you say so, sir. (talking to the teacher)

「無礼(ぶれい)を申す(もうす)な。」

How rude of you to say such a thing! (The speaker is clearly in a higher position.)

「問題(もんだい)は、申す(もうす)までもございませんが、お金(おかね)がかかることです。」

The problem is, needless to say, is the cost involved, sir.

However, 申す(もうす) has been recently used just to say in a polite way, regardless of the speaker’s position.

Another use of 申す(もうす) is to say in a polite way that you’ll do something to someone or you have the honor of doing something.

「後(のち)ほどお知らせ(おしらせ)申し(もうし)ます。」

I’ll let you know later.

「ご相談(そうだん)申し(もうし)ます。」

Please let me discuss this with you.

お茶 (おちゃ) のお供 (おとも) にきゅうりとなすのお漬物 (おつけもの) はいかがですか。: How about cucumber and eggplant pickles with tea?

「お供(とも)申し(もうし)ます。」

May I have the honor of coming with you?

「失礼(しつれい)申し(もうし)ました。」

I’m really sorry to do that.

In the form of 「申し(もうし) ＋ verb」, there are some compounds.

申し上げ(もうしあげ)る

This phrase has the same meaning as 「申す(もうす)」, however, is a politer expression.

「謹んで(つつしんで)お慶び(およろこび)申し上げ(もうしあげ)ます。」

I’m honored to express my sincere happiness to you.

申し入れ(もうしいれ)る

It is used when you make a formal request or express your opinion to somebody or an organization.

「彼(かれ)はシステム変更(へんこう)を申し入れた(もうしいれた)が却下(きゃっか)された。」

His proposal that the system should be changed was rejected.

申し遅れ(もうしおくれ)る

It means to delay telling someone something.

「申し遅れました(もうしおくれました)が、父(ちち)がよろしく申し(もうし)ました。」

I delayed telling you that my father gave his regard to you.

申し込む(もうしこむ)

It is to make a proposal or apply for something.

「彼女(かのじょ)に結婚(けっこん)を申し込ん(もうしこん)だ。」

I have proposed marriage to her.

結婚 (けっこん) の申し込み (もうしこみ) は、プロポーズと言い (いい) ます。: A marriage proposal is called プロポーズ in Japanese.

「金融(きんゆう)機関(きかん)に融資(ゆうし)を申し込ん(もうしこん)だ。」

I made a loan application to a financial institution.

「旅行(りょこう)代理店(だいりてん)でバスツアーの参加(さんか)を申し込ん(もうしこん)だ。」

I booked a bus tour at a travel agency.

申し立てる(もうしたてる)

It is to state, declare something, or plead.

「彼(かれ)はその決定(けってい)に異議(いぎ)を申し立て(もうしたて)た。」

He raised an objection to the decision.

彼女 (かのじょ) は異議 (いぎ) を申し立て (もうしたて) ています。: She's raised an objection.

「政権(せいけん)にあえて反対(はんたい)を申し立てる(もうしたてる)者(もの)は少なか(すくなか)った。」

Few people dared to declare their opposition to the regime.

「彼(かれ)は母親(ははおや)にもう一度(もういちど)面会(めんかい)したいと申し立て(もうしたて)た。」

He pleaded to be allowed to see his mother one more time.

申し付け(もうしつけ)る

It is used to mean that a person in a higher position orders someone to do something.

「彼(かれ)は職場(しょくば)から一週間(いっしゅうかん)の謹慎(きんしん)を申し付け(もうしつけ)られた。」

They ordered him to be suspended from office for a week.

「何(なん)なりとお申し付け(おもうしつけ)下(くだ)さい。」

Please don’t hesitate to tell me anything.

何なりとお申し付け下さい。: Please don't hesitate to tell me anything.

申し出る(もうしでる)

It is used to mean to come to state an opinion, a demand, a request, a fact, etc.

「彼女(かのじょ)は案内役(あんないやく)を申し出て(もうしでて)いた。」

She had offered her services as a guide.

こちらへどうぞ。: Please come this way.

「協力(きょうりょく)が必要(ひつよう)かわからないが、とにかく申し出て(もうしでて)みようと思う(おもう)。」

I don't think they need help, but I think I should offer anyway.

「上司(じょうし)に申し出て(もうしでて)改善(かいぜん)を要求(ようきゅう)した。」

I talked to my boss and demanded an improvement.