いたします means the humble form of do. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to speak humbly about your own action of doing something.
This grammar point often appears in conversation, written explanations, formal notices, and JLPT-style reading questions. If you want to speak humbly about your own action of doing something, いたします is a useful pattern to learn after the N5 basics.
What does いたします mean?
Use いたします when you want to speak humbly about your own action of doing something.
Natural translations include:
- to do humbly
- to do humbly
- to do humbly
The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on what the grammar point does in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.
How to form いたします
Noun + いたします / Verb stem + いたします in set expressions
Examples of the pattern:
- 説明いたします
- 確認いたします
- 失礼いたします
Pay attention to the word form before the pattern. Many JLPT N4 mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.
When is いたします used?
Use いたします in situations like:
- explaining a condition, reason, decision, or time relationship
- making a sentence more specific than a basic N5 pattern
- understanding natural Japanese in conversation or reading
Tone and register:
- neutral unless the grammar itself is marked as casual, humble, honorific, or formal
- Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and JLPT N4 reading questions
いたします example sentences
- 後で確認いたします。 — I will check later.
- 私が説明いたします。 — I will explain.
- 明日ご連絡いたします。 — I will contact you tomorrow.
- 失礼いたします。 — Excuse me.
- 予約を変更いたします。 — I will change the reservation.
Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: condition, timing, limitation, possibility, decision, politeness, or emphasis.
Nuance of いたします
The key nuance is is a humble polite form of する.
This matters because いたします may look simple in English, but the Japanese form tells you whether the speaker is describing a time, a condition, a decision, a possibility, or a social relationship.
For example:
- In context, いたします helps make the sentence more precise than a direct English translation.
- Compared with します, it has a different focus even when both patterns appear in similar sentences.
いたします vs します
Both {jp} and {similar} can appear in related sentences, but they are different.
いたします:
- is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
- carries the specific nuance explained above
します:
- is useful for comparison because learners often mix it up
- may use a different form, tone, or sentence focus
Quick contrast examples:
- Target pattern: 後で確認いたします。 — I will check later.
- Related pattern with します: compare the form and ask whether the sentence is about timing, condition, ability, decision, or politeness.
If you are unsure which one to use, identify the main job of the sentence before translating it into English.
Common mistakes with いたします
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using it with the wrong verb, noun, or adjective form
- Confusing it with します because the English translation can look similar
- Translating it too literally instead of reading the whole sentence context
A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.
Is いたします on the JLPT?
Yes. いたします is commonly taught as JLPT N4 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.
Practice questions for いたします
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Write one sentence using the basic pattern.
- Change the sentence into polite or casual style if possible.
- Compare it with the related pattern from the comparison section.
Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
Learn いたします with Kanjiru
If you want to review いたします together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N4 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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