Japanese honorifics are suffixes or prefixes used to show respect or familiarity when addressing other people. While they can be tricky for beginners, they play a key role in everyday conversations. For example, the same friend might be called Tanaka-san one day and Tanaka-kun the next, depending on who they are talking with. It all depends context, social status, and even gender. So which one should you use?
If you’ve ever wondered the meaning of -chan, -kun, -san, and –sama and how to use them, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll break down the meanings of the most common Japanese honorifics and help you learn when to use each titles.
Using Japanese Honorific Titles
Japanese honorific titles are suffixes that goes after the person’s name. In Japan, people call each other by their family name rather than their given names.
For example, if you come across a Japanese person and their name is Satou Kentaro, Satou being their surname, you can commonly address them as Satou-san.
Sometimes, people can add suffixes to someone’s first name based on personal preference or relationship. If you’re unsure, it’s safer to use the person’s family name with an appropriate honorific. These suffixes are used when addressing someone directly or talking about them. Note that because Japanese society values hierarchy, people of higher status sometimes omit honorifics when referring to others.
San, the most common one, could be translated as “Mr.”, “Mrs.” and “Ms.” and is gender neutral. However, you will find that Japanese honorific titles are more complicated to use than it looks and that they cannot be so easily translated.
More of a visual learner? Let’s watch Nami-sensei break down how Japanese suffixes like -san, -sama, -kun, and -chan work!
4 Basic Japanese Honorifics
1. San (さん)
San (さん) is certainly the first honorific title you will learn when studying Japanese. This suffix can be used to refer to almost anyone. It is gender neutral, and works like “Mr.”, “Ms.”, “Miss”, or “Mrs.” in English, but it is much more commonly used in everyday Japanese.
Example:
田中さん、こんにちは。
Tanaka-san, konnichiwa.
Hello, Mr./Ms. Tanaka.
The reason why this is the most common and safest honorific is because it still signals respect.
The usage of san is also very broad and flexible. While it is most commonly added to people’s names, it can also be attached to occupations, roles, or even companies and shops. For example, a baker could be called by “pan-ya san.”
| Usage of “san” | Example | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Added to a person’s name | 田中さん (Tanaka-san) | Mr./Ms. Tanaka |
| Added to a profession or role | パン屋さん (pan-ya san) | The baker (“Mr. Bread Shop”) |
| Added to a shop or business | 本屋さん (honya-san) | The bookstore owner |
| 寿司屋さん (sushi-ya san) | The sushi restaurant owner |
2. Sama (さま)
Sama (さま) is the a very respectful honorific title in Japanese, and the more formal version of –san. It is used in business and clientele context.
Using -sama implies that the guest or customer holds a superior or honored position. When addressing or referring to customers and clients, it shows respect and politeness, similar to “Sir” or “Madam” in English. For example, “okyaku-sama” (お客様) means “honored guest” or “customer,” emphasizing their importance.
Example:
お客様、いらっしゃいませ。
Okyaku-sama, irasshaimase.
Welcome, honored customer.
The use of –sama doesn’t just stop in spoken Japanese. When you send a letter, the recipient’s name will be followed by the kanji “様”. This practice is important because Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on hierarchy and respect, especially in formal situations. It’s similar to writing “Dear Mr./Ms.” in English but with a stronger tone of respect.
Similarly, when you want to address a group of people or an audience with respect, sama is attached to “mina” (everyone). This title is also a part of several set of phrases such as “ostukareisama.”
Example
神様にお願いをしました。
Kami-sama ni onegai o shimashita.
I made a wish to the god.
Japanese deities are often called 神様 (kami-sama) — the 様 (sama) shows great respect and honor, highlighting their divine status.
3. Kun (くん)
The title –kun (君) is usually reserved for young men or juniors. If you like to watch anime or read manga, you will probably notice “kun” as they appear frequently as nicknames among the main characters!
Example:
佐藤くん、こちらの資料を見てください。
Satou-kun, kochira no shiryou o mite kudasai.
Satou, please take a look at these documents.
So when exactly do Japanese people use –kun?
- When addressing boys or young men, especially if you’re older or in a higher position (like teachers to male students, or bosses to male juniors).
- Among male friends or classmates who are the same age or younger, to show familiarity and friendliness.
- Women can use it to address a man to whom they are very close.
Occasionally, in a business context, young women can be called –kun by their superior. Once again, you should always keep in mind the implied hierarchy of a title. Kun is used by a person of a higher status towards a younger male or a child.
Tip: Nowadays, men sometimes use –kun when addressing women, but it’s very rare for women to call each other -kun. You should never use –kun when addressing your superiors, as it’s considered too casual and disrespectful.
4. Chan (ちゃん)
Chan (ちゃん) the childish version of san. The honorific –chan originally comes from how children mispronounced –san, but over time, the change from “s” sound to “ch” is considered cute in Japanese, so it became a common Japanese honorifics.
You’ll often hear chan used in:
- For young children, especially girls
- Among close friends or family members, regardless of age, to show closeness
- For pets or cute animals
- Sometimes as a playful or affectionate nickname for adults, often women
Like –kun, friends and lovers can also address each other with this honorific. Surprisingly, there are some strange and wonderful exception to –chan, as it can be used to refer to an endearing adult. Among the most famous examples, you will find Arnold Schwarzenegger, called Shuwa-chan!
Fun fact! Chan is also frequently used to refer to cute cats!
Other Japanese Titles
By now, you must have guessed there is quite a long list of honorific titles. The most famous ones are definitely senpai, kouhai and sensei.
5. Senpai
Senpai (先輩) means “senior” or “upperclassman.” It refers to someone who has more experience or is in a higher grade or position than you, such as an older student, a senior colleague, or a mentor. Senpai often guides or supports kouhai.
6. Kouhai (後輩)
Kouhai (後輩) means “junior” or “underclassman.” It refers to someone who is younger, less experienced, or in a lower grade or position. Kouhai typically show respect to their senpai.
7. Sensei (先生)
Sensei (先生) literally means “teacher” or “master.” It’s used to address or refer to teachers, instructors, doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who have expertise and authority in their field. It can also be used to show respect to artists, writers, or skilled practitioners.
Other titles exist, such as “bou” (坊) for very young boys and the formal “shi” (氏) most exclusively used by writing and in particular for legal and academic documents.
Historically, samurai and lords were addressed with the title “dono” (殿), pronounced “tono,” which conveyed great respect. Today, you’ll mostly encounter “dono” in official documents and certificates.
If you enjoy learning about Japanese history, you might also have heard “chichi ue” or “haha ue” to speak about one’s father (chichi) or mother (haha) with a high level of respect: 上 (ue) meaning above.
Japanese Honorifics in the Workplace and Occupations
San, kun, chan and sama honorifics are often considered the basic Japanese titles, but there are other occupational honorific titles. Beware of the Japanese working environment! In traditional Japanese companies, workers are often addressed by their job titles rather than honorifics. For example, instead of saying “Tanaka-san,” you would say “Tanaka-shachou” when referring to your company president.
8. Buchou (部長)
The buchou is the head of a department within a company. They are responsible for managing the department’s operations, supervising staff, and making sure their team meets its goals.
Example:
田中部長は今、会議室で重要な打ち合わせをしています。
Tanaka-buchou wa ima, kaigishitsu de juuyou na uchiawase o shiteimasu.
Manager Tanaka is currently having an important meeting in the conference room.
9. Shachou (社長)
The shachou is the company president or CEO. This is the highest executive position in the company, responsible for making major decisions, setting company policies, and representing the company both internally and externally. The shachou usually reports to the board of directors.
Example:
社長の山本さんは、新しいプロジェクトの発表をしました。
Shachou no Yamamoto-san wa, atarashii purojekuto no happyou o shimashita.
President Yamamoto announced a new project.
10. Kachou (課長)
The kachou is a section manager or chief. They manage a smaller group or section within a department and report to the buchou.
Example:
鈴木課長はチームの進捗を毎週チェックしています。
Suzuki-kachou wa chiimu no shinchoku o maishuu chekku shiteimasu.
Section Chief Suzuki checks the team’s progress every week.
Common Mistake When Using Honorifics
One common mistake Japanese learners make is referring to themselves with an honorific title. Remember to never use san or any other title to refer to yourself unless you want to sound arrogant! The only exception to the rule is chan: in a casual context, some people, in particular, women, will refer to themselves in a childish third person.
Other times you should not use Japanese honorifics include:
- Close family members (sometimes): Within families, honorifics are often dropped, especially when speaking about or to immediate family like siblings or parents.
- Very close friends or lovers: Among close friends or romantic partners, people often use just the name or nicknames without honorifics.
- In very casual or informal settings: Among children or in casual groups, honorifics might be omitted.
- When using job titles or roles in formal contexts: As mentioned, sometimes , especially in business, people use titles like “buchou” (manager) or “tenchou” (store manager) without honorifics.
When to Drop Japanese Titles: 呼び捨て (Yobisute)
Yobisute (呼び捨て) is the act of dropping the suffix when you refer to someone else. As it shows a degree intimacy, it is important to take a peek into the Japanese concept of “in-out” (uchi / soto) ruling the whole Japanese speech.
- In Japanese, “uchi” means home. As a concept, “uchi” refers to all the people you know inside a specific social circle: your family, your company, your club. For example, inside the “uchi”, family members may drop the title.
- In Japanese, “soto” means outside. As a concept, “soto” refers to all the people who are not inside your specific social circle. For example, another company’s employee.
Japanese speech differs depending on the social context of your interlocutor. Foreigners most often struggle to grasp the honorific speech and the profoundly complex politeness of Japanese language. An important and simple rule is that you will not speak the same way with someone from “uchi” to someone from “soto”. Regarding the honorific title, the tricky conversation context would be when your interlocutor is from soto and you are referring to someone from “uchi”:
When talking with a client about your manager, Mr. Kaneki, you usually call him Kaneki-san in the office. However, in this formal context, you drop the honorific and use his work title instead: buchou no Kaneki (部長の金木), meaning “Manager Kaneki.”
Similarly, when referring to a colleague like Takezawa-san, you would say douryou no Takezawa (同僚の竹沢), which means “colleague Takezawa.”
Using Japanese Honorifics with Western Name
Very often, you can feel confused and surprised to hear people addressing others with their family name. Japanese are not always at ease when addressing a foreigner but they know the connection implied by the use of the first name abroad. Do not be surprised if –san is added to your first name instead of your family name. And do not feel offended if they omit the –san as some Japanese might attempt to respect westerner manners.
On the contrary, the use of the first name is considered too familiar for Japanese and they would feel rather uncomfortable. That being said, the more you spend time in Japan or close to Japanese, the more you will understand exceptions exist, in particular with Japanese who have experience with foreigners.
In business contexts, it is necessary to use keigo with colleagues of higher positions and seniority.
You can also learn about the different ways to refer to yourself!
What’s Next After Learning Japanese Suffixes?
Want to master Japanese honorifics like -san, -kun, -chan, and -sama with confidence? Continue learning Japanese at Coto Academy, where you will learn not just the grammar, but the cultural nuances behind the language! Join our fun, conversation-focused classs online or in tokyo, and start speaking Japanese naturally, one suffix at a time!
Want to study Japanese?
What are Japanese honorifics?
Japanese honorifics are suffixes or titles added to names or job titles to express respect, familiarity, or social hierarchy. Common honorifics include -san, -kun, -chan, and -sama.
When should I use -san in Japanese?
Use -san when addressing someone politely, especially in formal situations or when speaking to people you don’t know well. It’s the most commonly used honorific and works like “Mr.” or “Ms.” in English, but is more universal.
What’s the difference between -kun and -chan?
Kun is typically used for boys or younger men and may also be used in workplace settings by superiors addressing junior staff. Chan is a more affectionate honorific used for children, close friends, or loved ones.
What does -sama mean in Japanese?
Sama is a very respectful honorific, often used for customers, clients, or people of higher social status. It is also used in formal letters and customer service settings.
Should I use Japanese honorifics when speaking English?
If you’re discussing Japanese people or culture in English, it’s acceptable to use honorifics like –san, especially for clarity or respect.
Where should I study Japanese?
If you want to learn Japanese effectively, consider Coto Academy. Coto offers tailored courses for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners, with native teachers who focus on practical conversation and cultural understanding. Whether you prefer in-person classes in Tokyo and Yokohama or online lessons from anywhere, Coto provides flexible options to suit your schedule.
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Article source: https://cotoacademy.com/san-sama-kun-and-chan/
