The honorific O precedes many nouns in Japanese. Sometimes, it has been used for so long that it has become an inseparable part of the word, as in おぎじ.
In cases where it is attached to something that can belong to someone, you usually use it to speak politely about someone else’s, but take it off when referring to your own.
For example, namae and genki are words on their own, meaning “name” and “good health.” However, when speaking or inquiring about someone else’s name or health, you attach the honorific O. You would never refer to your own name as o-namae.
You can mechanically translate it as “honorable.”
Ex:
Question: おげんきですか？ “Are you in honorable good health?”
Response: はい、げんきです。 “Yes, I am in good health.”
The response omits the お ****because to call one’s own health honorable wouldn’t be very modest.
In short, the honorific O is for other people, never yourself.
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