Understanding the Honorifics -san, -kun, -chan, and -sama (~さん、~ちゃん、~くん、~さま)
In Japanese, there are several honorifics like
-san, -kun, and
others that are attached to names or titles. Each
one serves a unique purpose and is commonly used
in polite conversation. These honorifics can be
quite interesting in how they function in the
language. Let’s go over these honorifics, starting
with -san.
Honorific -san (さん)
The -san honorific is used when
addressing someone you don’t know well or to
maintain a level of politeness. It’s a neutral and
respectful way to refer to others. In some
languages like Indonesian, it can be loosely
compared to a polite “Mr.” or “Ms.”
Example:
アレックスさんはアメリカ人ですか？
(Arekkusu-san wa amerikajin desu ka?)
“Is Mr.
Alex American?”
お母さん、ピアノを教えてください。
(Okaasan, piano o oshiete kudasai.)
“Mom,
please teach me the piano.”
Honorific -kun (くん)
The -kun honorific is typically
used for boys, especially when you have a close or
familiar relationship with them. It is also used
in more casual settings, such as among friends or
younger colleagues. There’s no direct equivalent
in Indonesian for this honorific.
Example:
ジョンくんはテニスが得意です。
(Jon-kun wa tenisu ga tokui desu.)
“John is
good at tennis.”
タケシくんはサッカーが好きだよ。
(Takeshi-kun wa sakkaa ga suki da yo.)
“Takeshi
likes soccer.”
Honorific -chan (ちゃん)
The -chan honorific is used for
children, pets, or people who are considered cute,
endearing, or playful. It can also be used in a
friendly or affectionate way towards someone
you’re very close to.
Example:
マリアちゃんはとてもおとなしいです。
(Maria-chan wa totemo otonashii desu.)
“Maria-chan
is very quiet.”
ユウちゃんはよく歌います。
(Yuu-chan wa yoku utaimasu.)
“Yuu-chan sings
a lot.”
Honorific -sama (さま)
The -sama honorific is a formal
and respectful way to address someone of higher
rank or those deserving great respect. It’s often
used in situations where you need to show great
reverence or politeness, like addressing a
customer or a superior.
Example:
社長さま、お疲れ様でした。
(Shachou-sama, otsukaresama deshita.)
“President,
thank you for your hard work.”
お客様さま、お待たせいたしました。
(Okyakusama-sama, omatase itashimashita.)
“Dear
customer, thank you for waiting.”
We’ve covered the four most commonly used
honorifics in Japanese. While there are others,
these are the basics that you’ll encounter often.
Don’t worry if you don’t master them right
away—learning Japanese is all about taking it step
by step. In future lessons, we’ll explore more
honorifics, but for now, let’s take it easy and
practice what we’ve learned! See you in the next
lesson!
