Which one is more polite? 何を食べられますか or 何を食べておりますか

[ec2953]

Hi everyone ! Everything is in the title~ If I am right, the first one relates to a form of Keigo (which I assume to be sonkeigo?), whereas the latter one is also an expression of keigo but associated with humbleness (kenjougo).

Which one would stand out a little bit more?

Thanks ^^

Ed

[community.japanese]

Ed　さん、
今日は。
I can understand keigo is one of difficult points in Japanese study.

As you know keigo is divided into several groups.

食べられる is a respectful expression which is used for describing an action of someone else in higher position.

食べておる is a humble expression which is used for the speaker self.

Therefore the sentence　何を食べられますか is ‘what are you going to eat? (what would you like to eat?)’.
The subject must be ‘you’.

However, 食べております means ‘I am eating (now)’ so it’s describing yourself.
Then do you ask yourself ‘what are you eating?/ what am I eating?’.
That is weird isn’t it?
Consequently, 何を食べておりますか is a wrong sentence.

We have several words to express ‘eat’ for example, お召し上がりになる、お食べになる and 食べられる.
And we have a rule, the longer the pore polite.
Basically longer sentences are more polite.

I hope it could help you.

Yuki　由紀
Team JapanesePod101.com

[ec2953]

Yuki先生、

どうもありがとうございました！

It was really insightful as you hit the nail right on the head

Thank you for your time and long explanation.

I hope to read from you soon.

Ed

[community.japanese]

Edさん、

どういたしまして。
敬語は難しいですね。

では、また。

Yuki　由紀
Team JapanesePod101.com