Japanese Honorifics: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’re unfamiliar with Japanese honorifics, start from this perspective: imagine the main characters in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and their typical way of greeting someone…“Dude!”
Got it? OK, to get a sense of common Japanese honorifics, think of the exact opposite of Keanu Reeves in that movie starting a conversation.
While that carefree Californian vibe is informal and all-encompassing to a fault, the Japanese style is polite, measured, and respectful – regardless of whether the person you are addressing is an emperor or parking attendant.
We’ll review how to use Japanese honorifics, peculiar Japanese cultural norms related to them, and present a list of Japanese honorifics – not all, but some of the most important ones.
Understanding Japanese Honorifics
Similar to addressing someone as “Mister” or “Missus” in English, Japanese has its own sophisticated form of greetings. Every language has its own honorifics, but the Japanese take it to a whole other level…multiple levels, actually!
Honorifics are specific words that acknowledge a person’s title or status, all while bestowing a degree of politeness and respect. For new learners of the Japanese language, figuring out this complex system of identification can be quite a challenge.
Japanese honorific meanings can be based on:
- Social hierarchy / status
- Age
- Gender
- Official title (doctors, lawyers, etc.)
- And much more
Common Japanese Honorifics and Their Meanings
We’ve compiled a list of Japanese honorifics to help you navigate travel in Japan, converse with a native Japanese speaker, and gain a greater appreciation of the politeness and formality you’ll find throughout Japanese culture.
San (さん)
If you’re going to only learn or use one honorific for Japanese prefixes and suffixes, this is the one. It’s one of the most widely used and flexible honorifics in the language, so feel free to use San when you’re unsure. What’s more, you can use it in any situation – business or casual, informal or formal, addressing a close friend or a colleague you just met!
Sama (さま)
You’ve heard the phrase, “Put some respect on their name!” Well, Sama is the honorific to use when you want to show extreme respect. It can be used to respect and honor the elderly, and the Japanese frequently use it to honor anyone highly esteemed in their field.
Chan (ちゃん)
One of the most personal of all Japanese honorifics, Chan is used to address close and cherished family members (especially females and children), but can also be used to refer to close acquaintances, trusted co-workers, and life-long friends – all usually female. And because of Japan’s reputation as a cuisine capital of the world, Chan can also be used to talk about food, especially in Osaka.
Kun (くん)
Think of Kun as the opposite of Chan. This honorific is a casual designation for typically male classmates, co-workers, and other colleagues outside the home. Kun is regarded as one of the more informal Japanese honorifics.
Senpai (せんぱい)
If you’re a fan of Japanese anime, you’ve probably noticed this honorific. It’s used to address senior-level classmates at school – hey, the whole “respect your elders” tradition doesn’t necessarily mean the person has to be OLD! Respectful Japanese freshmen and sophomores are well-advised to put Senpai in their vocabulary.
Sensei (せんせい)
Sensei is similar to Sama, but more specialized. Patients use it when addressing their doctor, clients when talking to their lawyer, and students when referring to their instructor.
How to Use Japanese Honorifics the Right Way
OK, it’s time for practical application. Let’s discuss how to use honorifics, specifically Japanese prefixes and suffixes. One thing to keep in mind is that every situation is unique. In other words, context matters with Japanese honorifics; you have to account for the setting, your relationship (if any) to the person you’re speaking with, their age, gender…it can be quite the information overload!
For travelers to Japan, it’s always a good idea to use the jack-of-all-trades (and titles) when it comes to addressing people…so, さん (san) is the way to go. This honorific includes any social hierarchy, age, gender, etc. The Japanese are very understanding and appreciative of a foreigner using San as their honorific. Bottom line? No harm, no foul when using San.
If you’re addressing a friend or frequent acquaintance, use ちゃん (chan) or くん (kun). These are ideal for adding a polite, personal accent for any conversation.
Mastering Japanese Honorifics – A Subtle Stepping Stone to Learning the Language
Japanese honorific meanings are just one fascinating aspect of the language. The unique structure, writing style, formality, and content of Japanese draw curious learners everywhere.
Pimsleur helps you learn how to use Japanese honorifics, which are (literally) the ideal gateway to conversational speaking – and much more! Japanese prefixes and suffixes are just the beginning; they’re great for everyday conversations but also serve as a catalyst of sorts to learn more about the language.
If you’d like to speak Japanese conversationally, Pimsleur’s unique, proven language-learning techniques can help you reach that goal. You’ll learn Japanese like a child would – by using your natural oral and aural skills to acquire new words, nail down pronunciation, perfect noun & verb usage, and plenty more.Sign up for a Premium subscription for Japanese only, or expand your learning possibilities with our All Access subscription, with immediate access to dozens of popular languages. Thanks for visiting Pimsleur, and we hope these tips & tricks assist in your casual and formal Japanese speaking!