おる

1. Usage as a Standalone Verb
おる is used to state that you (or someone in your 'in-group') are in a certain place. As a standalone verb, like いる, it is strictly for animate subjects (people and animals); for inanimate objects, ある (or its polite equivalent ございます) is used. In standard speech, the polite affirmative おります and the polite negative おりません are standard (e.g., あいにく田中は現在おりません — Unfortunately, Tanaka is not here right now). Note: To function as humble Standard Japanese, it almost always requires the polite suffix ます. Using the plain form (おる or ておる) in standard spoken Japanese is often associated with 'Role Language' (an old man) or a regional dialect. Learners should never use plain おる to sound formal, as it will make them sound arrogant（尊大）or like a fictional character. In formal writing, the stem おり and negative おらず are common connectors (see Section 2 for their frequent use as auxiliary verbs).
Example: 私は明日も会社におります。(I will be at the office tomorrow as well.)

2. Usage as an Auxiliary Verb (〜ております)
When attached to the て form of another verb, it replaces ている (or ています) to create a more courteous/humble form. Because it is 丁重語（ていちょうご）, officially classified as 謙譲語II（けんじょうごに / Humble Language II） in modern guidelines, it shows respect to the listener. In Standard Japanese, the humble form ております is strictly limited to the speaker's own actions, those of their in-group, or neutral/inanimate entities (like natural phenomena), and cannot be used for the actions of the listener or a respected third party. This covers several main functions:

• Progressive Action: An action is currently happening (e.g., 資料を確認しております — I am checking the documents; 雨が降っております — It is raining).
• Resultant State: A state is ongoing (e.g., 承知しております — I am aware/I understand). This is extremely common in business Japanese to show a current state of knowledge or readiness.
• Negative State/Action: The negative form 〜ておりません is heavily used in business to politely state that something has not happened or is not in a certain state (e.g., まだ確認しておりません — I have not confirmed it yet).
• Formal Connectors: In formal writing or speech, the auxiliary stem 〜ており and negative 〜ておらず are frequently used to connect clauses (e.g., 担当者が確認しており... — The person in charge is checking, and...; まだ解決しておらず... — It has not been resolved yet, and...).

3. Regional and Character Nuances

• Kansai/Western Japan: In these regions, おる is often used as a neutral equivalent to いる in casual speech.
• Role Language: In fiction, elderly male characters often use おる to sound wise or old-fashioned.

4. Honorific Usage (おられる)
While おる functions primarily as 丁重語 / 謙譲語II (courteous/humble language respecting the listener), its passive form おられる (or 〜ておられる) is sometimes used as an honorific form（尊敬語 / そんけいご）to show respect to the subject's actions or state. However, while the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs（文化庁）officially recognizes it as grammatically correct 尊敬語, this usage is practically debated. Kanto (Eastern) speakers often find it unnatural or contradictory in formal business settings. It is highly recommended to use いらっしゃる instead as the safer, standard choice.

5. Conjugation
おる is a Godan verb.

• Polite: おります
• Negative (Humble): おりません
• Plain Negative: In standard Japanese, おらない is virtually never used; いない or 〜ていない is used instead. However, おらん is extremely common in Western Japan casual speech.
• Negative Connector: おらず (used almost exclusively to link clauses in formal writing)
• Te-form: おって
• Past: おった