Basically, the Japanese use first and last names with nominal suffixes. There are some exceptions here, but more on that later.
In general, the topic of nominal suffixes is huge and there are a lot of nuances that are better to learn in life, rather than in theory. However, in this article I will try to theoretically break down some points and bring a little clarity to this topic.
We won’t go into everything, we’ll go over the top so as not to drag out the article.
Let's start with the most popular nominal suffixes: san, kun and chan .
Suffix "San"
For example, Yamada-san. The suffix “San” is a neutral polite style. It can be compared to some extent with a conversation on “you” .
That is, in essence, the suffix “ San ” is used by juniors in relation to elders; when speaking on equal terms, in official address, whether it is a stranger or a work colleague, they usually use “ San ”.
However, it is worth clarifying here that when using “ San ”, this may not always mean official communication. But let's hold that and move on to the " Tian " suffix.
San
San is the most common honorific suffix. You will likely use this noun suffix a lot during your stay in Japan. San is the equivalent of Mister (Mr.) and Missis (Mrs.) used in Western countries. San is used to refer to either gender in both formal and informal contexts. In addition to people, the suffix -san can also be used for inanimate objects. For example, the famous sacred mountain of Japan - Fuji is often called Fuji-san. San is used when talking to people you are not very familiar with. San is also used in family hierarchy. For example, when a younger brother/sister addresses an older brother: Ni-san. When a younger brother/sister addresses his older sister Ane-san. When a son/daughter addresses his mother with respect (O-kaa-san). When a son/daughter addresses his father respectfully (O-too-san) in an informal setting. The same applies to grandfather (o-ji:san) and grandmother (o-baa-san). However, when talking with other people, the Japanese use the following words when mentioning their relatives: haha - mom, chichi - dad.
Suffix "Tian"
I see errors quite often with this suffix. Most beginners and some textbooks believe that the suffix “Kun” is used in relation to boys, and “chan” is used in relation to girls. Of course this is not true. I honestly admit, I don’t know where it came from, maybe it was like this once or it’s a usage error, I don’t know what I don’t know.
However, if we talk about the Japanese language at the present time, then “ Tian ” in real life is similar to our diminutive suffix . That is, when you say, for example, Yoko- chan - you essentially say Yokochka , or to make it easier in Russian you say Masha - Mashenka . It is used in much the same way as in Russian, that is, in informal speech, and it is a gross misconception to think that “Tyan” is used exclusively for girls, although for some reason many people think so.
So, for example, you can hear when a girl calls a guy Akira- chan and this does not mean that Akira has become a girl.
This is just a diminutive of Akirochka. Or if grandfather is called “Oji-chan”, this will not make him a woman.
But there is one “BUT” : of course, a guy won’t call a guy with the suffix “chan”, because... it will really be strange, although there are such cases. Well, our two guys don’t talk in a diminutive style among themselves.
Appeals in martial arts
Martial arts students often call their teachers senpai. The Senpai/Kouhai system is used in communication between junior and senior students.
Shougou (称号, “title, rank, degree”) is one of the systems of address in martial arts sections.
錬士, れんし (renshi): instructor; 教士, きょうし (kyōshi): high-level teacher; 範士, はんし (hanshi): eldest of teachers, “teacher of teachers”, “Great Master”; 名人, めいじん (meijin): title awarded by a special commission, “magnificent, brilliant person”;
- Name Kira in Korean v2
- Name Lisa in Japanese
- Name Elena in Korean v1
Suffix "Kun"
" Kun " is less formal and a little more "friendly". It is also a mistake to believe that Kun is used exclusively for men. Yes, in practice, it mostly turns out this way, but it is not 100% always the case. Those. It’s fair to use “ Kun” to refer to a girl, too, if you don’t want to substitute the suffix “ Tian ,” i.e. when the diminutive form is not entirely appropriate. Kun being used for girls .
Those. If you show graphically the rank of politeness, then you can place Kun San ”, but above “ Tian ”.
And these 3 suffixes should be enough for the first couple of years of study. And then come the following suffixes.
Start
In the recent past, not everyone had computers, and many users only dreamed of unlimited high-speed Internet.
Fortunately, now everything has changed, and no one will be surprised by numerous electronic gadgets and fast access to the Internet. Gradually, the Internet from a source of knowledge, entertainment and a method of communication turned into a kind of world within a world, in which various and usually short-lived subcultures, myths, legends and slang arose. As often happens in any society, including virtual ones, people always try to divide themselves into groups. On the Internet, this usually happens based on interests, and before the massive spread of social networks, various forums and other thematic platforms were very popular. Gradually, they developed their own slang, which was modified or distorted foreign words. And one of these words is kun. So what is kun, where did this word come from and what does it mean? We'll figure this out.
Suffix "Herself"
The suffix “Sama” has the highest position in our hierarchy.
It’s hard to translate literally, but essentially as “honorable.” It is quite rare in spoken Japanese, but it does occur. For example, this is how the service staff may address you when they ask 何名様ですか “Nan mei sama deska” - “table for how many people”? Not San, but herself. Or when you are waiting and they read you from the list, for example: 山田様はいらっしゃいますか “Yamada-sama wa irasshaimaska?” That is, we often use the nominal suffix “Sama” in the conversation of service personnel.
Just like with us, Sama can be used as a joke, this is comparable when we say “Sorry, sir” or something similar, when we deliberately raise a person’s rank as a joke.
If we are not talking about colloquial language, then “sama” is used quite often. For example, in letters to the recipient they use Sama.
Download a list of Japanese nominal suffixes
It can be hard to keep all those noun suffixes in your head, especially if you need to use them in the moment and don't have time to figure them out (for example, you're in Tokyo and meeting a group of people). In this case, it will be useful to print out a list of nominal suffixes or save them on your smartphone so that you always have access to them. This way you will be able to repeat what you have learned in a timely manner and correctly use forms of politeness.
We also recommend that you sign up for the main course of our school “Japanese for beginners in three steps” using the link.
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Suffix "Sensei"
Sensei, literally “born before” - this is both a word and a nominal suffix, can be used with a name in those cases when you are addressing a teacher, professor and everyone who is in the subject of education, as well as when addressing a doctor, lawyer, politician , scientist, etc. Those. we can characterize this as certain socially important social figures. Rather, “Sensei” denotes a certain status rather than your attitude towards a person.
In my opinion, the main part of the suffixes is over, now comes the part for the most inquisitive minds who want to know more.
Suffix "Senpai"
“Senpai” is someone who is “senior” in a particular area. For example, for a 1st grade high school student, the senpai will be a 2nd grade high school student, and for a 2nd grade high school student, the 1st grade student will be Kohai.
We can say that they represent both simple words and nominal suffixes, just like Sensei. Those. they can also be used with names, such as Tanaka-senpai. Or you have been working for the company for 2 years, and another person has been working for 5 years. Who do you think he is for you? Right! Senpai! And for him you are Kohai.
To avoid confusion between Senpai and Kohai, use literal translation and mnemonics. Senpai is “comrade in front”, Kohai is “comrade behind”, and in the distance stands Sensei – “born before”.
Those. We imagine a graph where you stand and in the distance stands the Sensei who was born before you, the kanji Sen just hints that they came before you. Also, ahead of you is Senpai. And Kohai is behind you, as indicated by the kanji “after”.
Final notes on the use of Japanese nominal suffixes
This article lists the main nominal suffixes that you may encounter in everyday life. Before we finish, here are a few notes about politeness in Japanese in general to help you use suffixes more correctly:
- If you are talking about someone who belongs to your circle, for example, the company you work for, and the person speaking to you is outside of this group, do not use nominal politeness suffixes regarding your colleagues, because it is perceived as if you added the suffix さん to your name.
- When people's names are listed, for example in a news report, honorific suffixes are not indicated, but afterward they are marked 敬称略 (けいしょうりゃく, keisyouryaku) “politeness suffixes omitted.”
- Nominal suffixes that express respect can be used in the opposite way, for example to ridicule someone. If you want to make fun of someone, put 様 at the end of their name. This will sound sarcastic.
*article translated from www.tofugu.com
Suffix "Senshu"
"Senshu" is not only the word for "athlete", but it is also a suffix used for famous athletes.
PS You expected that there would be more nominal suffixes here, but I thought about it and realized that there is nothing more to talk about, so if I remember something, I will definitely update the article.
Now let's talk about when suffixes are not used , because this also happens.
Suffixes do not need to be used in relation to family members when, for example, you are talking to someone.
Also, there is no particular need to use a suffix when addressing by name, because Usually in Japan this indicates a fairly close relationship to the person, so why the suffix? Those. when the relationship with a person is close enough, suffixes are not needed. On the other hand, there are so many nuances that even within the family circle they can use nominal suffixes by name.
Japanese suffixes “-chan” “-kun”, etc.
Hello, this is Kofeyok from floor B3. And today, as you understand by the name, we will learn the meaning of suffixes (yes, chan (chan) and kun are suffixes) of the Japanese language, such as: chan, kun, sensei, senpai, Aniki and several others.
Let's start with "-chan" and "-kun".
Chan is NOT a girl and Kun is NOT a guy!
Girl in Japanese sounds like this: On'nanoko and is written like this: 女の子.
In Japanese, a guy sounds like this: Sono shōnen (その少年), and a boy sounds like this: Otokonoko (男の子)
So what do the suffixes “-chan” and “-kun” mean?
(Caution! Everything is taken from Wikipedia)
-Chan
-chan (ちゃん) is an approximate analogue of diminutive suffixes in Russian. Indicates the closeness and informality of the relationship. Used by people of equal social status or age, older in relation to younger ones, with whom close relationships develop. Mainly used by young children, close friends, adults in relation to children, young men in relation to their girlfriends. It is not used in a purely male society; moreover, a man may regard such an address to himself as an insult (unless his beloved girl calls him that). Can be used in relation to a grandfather or grandmother - in this case it will correspond to the Russian diminutives “grandfather” and “grandmother”.
-Kun
-kun (君, you) is a more “warm” polite suffix than “-san”. Signifies significant closeness yet somewhat formal relationships. An approximate analogue of the address “comrade” or “friend”. It is used by people of equal social status, most often by friends, classmates, colleagues, when older people address juniors, as well as when a boss addresses a subordinate, when this fact is not worth focusing on.
This suffix has two dependencies described below, depending on the age group. In relation to minors (under 20 years of age), that is, schoolchildren, students, it is usually used in relation to males. Can be used in relation to girls when the suffix “-chan” is inappropriate for some reason (for example, a male teacher to a female student or a girl to a girl in a somewhat formal but humorous manner). In relation to adults - both men and women (usually in cases where these are work colleagues or an address from a boss to a subordinate).
-San
-san (さん) is a neutral polite suffix that corresponds quite closely to addressing people by first name and patronymic in Russian. It is widely used in all spheres of life: in communication between people of equal social status, when younger people address elders, and so on. Often used when addressing unfamiliar people. In addition, it can be used by a romantically inclined young man in relation to his beloved.
However, it should be taken into account that in female speech this suffix loses its honorative meaning and is used for almost all names[1]. That is, Japanese women address everyone with “-san,” even the closest people (excluding children). This explains the fact that in Japanese films, as well as in anime, women say “-san” even to their husbands. In this case, the suffix does not mean addressing “you”. However, modern young women and girls are less formal in their speech and use “-san” mainly as a neutral-polite suffix.
-Herself
-sama (様) is a suffix that shows the highest possible respect and respect. An approximate analogue of the address “Mr”, “Honourable”. Mandatory in any letters when specifying the addressee, regardless of rank. In colloquial speech it is used quite rarely and only when addressing persons of lower social status to higher ones or very respectful address of younger people to elders. It is used when addressing a priest to deities, a devoted servant to a master, a girl to a lover, as well as in the text of official messages.
In modern speech, such an appeal is sometimes used as sarcasm.
-Senpai
-senpai (先輩, lit. “colleague who started earlier”) is a suffix used when addressing a younger person to an older person. Often used in educational institutions by junior students in relation to senior students. Outside of school or college, it can be used to address an older, more experienced friend or colleague. It is also used as a separate independent word, just like sensei. Often the address “senpai” to a younger person occurs without attaching any suffixes to the latter’s surname. Sometimes the suffix “-kun (君)” is added to the name of the younger one.
-Kohai
-kohai (Japanese 後輩 ko:hai, literally “later-started colleague”) is the opposite of “senpai”, an acceptable address for a current or potential “senpai” to the one for whom he is this “senpai”. More often used as a separate independent word, rather than as a suffix. Can be used in educational institutions in relation to someone who is in the lower grades.
-Sensei
-sensei (先生, lit. “earlier being”) is a suffix used when addressing teachers and teachers (in the broadest sense), as well as doctors, scientists, writers, politicians and other publicly known and respected people. Indicates the social status of a person and the attitude of the speaker towards him rather than his actual profession. Like "senpai", often used as a separate word.
-Dosi
-doshi (Japanese 同志 do:si) - literally translated as “comrade”; another meaning is “like-minded person”
-Si
-si (氏, he) - used in formal writing (documents, scientific papers) and, sometimes, in very formal speech towards strangers (for example, in the news). When a person is mentioned for the first time in a conversation, his name and the suffix si are indicated. Further in the conversation, instead of the full name, only si is used.
-Aniki
-aniki (兄貴, lit. “noble elder brother”) is a slang honorific, an analogue of the Russian “bro.”
-Senshu
-senshu (選手) - used in relation to famous athletes.
In conversations with an outsider, for a family or company, an individual, or in correspondence when indicating the name of a family member or another employee of the company (even of a higher rank), suffixes are not used.
Also, suffixes may not be used when addressing people by name personally. This indicates a fairly close, familiar relationship.
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Well, that's all. Now you know the most common Japanese nominal suffixes.
