Japanese Honorific Suffixes Explained
Fans of untranslated or subtitled Japanese animation are treated to a facet of anime
of which dubbed fans are unaware. In Japan, it is standard for honorific suffixes to be
added to the end of names. These suffixes are terms of respect or endearments, and shed a
great deal of insight on the relationships between characters.
Listed here are the most common endings used in anime, and the level of respect they
imply.
Calling someone by a family name alone is being very familiar or rude, depending on
the situation. Referring to someone as their given name alone is less rough, but more
familiar. Using no honorific when one is expected can be an expression of contempt and can
quickly get you into hot water.
-sama A
very respectful ending. Not normally used with someone's names, but rather their title.
Used to people of superior status, like your boss, or to your guests as a host when you
are being ultrapolite. Sometimes girls will use "-sama" when talking about a guy
they are nuts over.
-san The most
common ending, one of respect. It can stand for Mr. and Ms., and is attached to either
first names, last names, and names of occupations. It is used for strangers and people you
do not know well, but are more or less the same social status. When in doubt, use
"-san" and you're covered.
-kun Technically, it is used by a
socially superior male to a socially inferior male. However, "-kun" is also used
familiarly among teenage guys and boys who grew up together. Nowadays "-kun" is
being used more and more often by and for girls as well.
-chan Intimate form of address,
suggesting friendly cuteness. Families that are close use it, and "-chan" is
often used by very young children. (They can get away with it.) This is the common
suffixed used among good friends. "-chan" is used with given names,
abbreviations of given names, and nicknames, but not family names. To call a social
superior "-chan" without reason is a social faux pas.
-sensei A respectful term
meaning "teacher", also used with physicians. Frequently used to refer to
experts in a field or people in any respected occupation.
-sempai A
term meaning "senior" in a group or organization. In school, students refer to
students a year above them as "sempai".
See, that wasn't so hard, now, was it? Listen for those suffixes, they're really
helpful!