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Japanese honorifics. The Japanese language makes use of a system of honorific speech, called keishō (敬称), which includes honorific suffixes and prefixes when referring to others in a conversation. Suffixes are often gender-specific at the end of names, while prefixes are attached to the beginning of many nouns.
- The Main Japanese Honorifics
- How to Use These Honorifics
- When You Shouldn’T Use Japanese Honorifics
- Learn Japanese with Go! Go! Nihon
San さん
San is probably the first honorific you’ll learn how to use and it is one of the most commonly used. You can use it with anyone you don’t really know, regardless of their gender, age or social status. It’s a neutral term, which most closely resembles “Sir/Madam“. This suffix is also added to company or business names, like a pastry shop (パン屋さん, pan-ya-san).
Chan ちゃん
This is the most familiar honorific and is supposedly derived from children who couldn’t say “San” properly. This small mistake was considered cute and stayed in the language. It is used to refer to young women you’re close with, children, babies, a grandmother, or even an animalyou’re especially fond of. It can also be used in a couple or when talking about someone you like a lot. You therefore need to be careful who you use it with and avoid using it for people you’re not so close to.
Kun くん
This is a suffix seen as masculine, used for teenagers and young men. Sometimes, it is used to refer to young women, but only in very specific situations. It’s usually used by people seen as superior, since this honorific is mostly used when one person of higher status is talking to a younger person. The politeness level is low and its kanji is the same as the one used for kimi (君), which is an informal way of saying “you”. Kun can be used when talking with a classmate, a younger brother or y...
If you’re familiar with Japanese culture, you already know that people rarely use another person’s first name. Therefore, Japanese honorifics are tied to last names. It’s very rude to simply call someone by their last name. Sometimes the honorific will be attached to the person’s first name for other reasons, such as when two people are especially ...
Note that you shouldn’t use these honorifics when: 1. talking about yourself; 2. when the person you’re talking to asks you not to use them (呼び捨てyobisute, which literally means “call” and “throw away”); 3. when you are talking with someone from your inner circle (内 uchi), like your parents, grandparents, etc.; or 4. when you are talking about someo...
And there you have it! The basic rules of using Japanese honorifics. Their usage is much more complex and can be difficult to interpret at times. But as a foreigner, people will cut you some slack if you mess up. That being said, if you work in Japan, you may want to be extra careful when using these honorifics. Don’t hesitate to ask the person dir...
Sep 22, 2023 · Here's your go-to guide on Japanese honorifics. Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash. Rule Number One. Never refer to yourself with an honorific. Use your name only. 1. San. You can add the honorific san for people you've just met, ideally with their last name (if they introduced themselves as such). San is used for strangers and for people with ...
Apr 20, 2021 · We therefore propose to go over their various uses. Unless otherwise specified, these honorifics are placed after the name of the caller (sometimes his first name but usually his sur-name), as in: Sato-san, Kenji-kun, Miyagi-sensei. Also keep in mind these honorifics are highly contextual, so it is difficult to give absolute rules for their use.
Oct 15, 2021 · Common Japanese Honorifics (San, Sama, Chan, Kun) These Japanese honorifics are commonly used in Japanese daily life. Because of its importance, it’s essential to understand what each honorific means and how to use it when speaking Japanese. 1. さん (San): Mr./Mrs., Sir/Madam.
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Jul 22, 2016 · Honorific Suffixes. Common Anime Words. In Japanese, honorific suffixes are words like san さん, chan ちゃん, kun くん, and sama 様, which are written or said after a person's name when addressing them. They're also called honorific titles, or keishou 敬称. There are dozens of them, and they're used for dozens of reasons.
