Japanese Honorifics - Explained

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Nodame Cantabile

Dong Yi

Minna no Nihongo

Politeness has always been a critical facet of Japanese culture. Ever since the feudal era, when Japan was a highly stratified society, use of honorifics - which can be defined as polite speech that indicates relationship or status - has played an essential role in the Japanese language. When addressing someone in Japanese, an honorific usually takes the form of a suffix attached to one's name (example: "Satomi-san"), is used a s a title at the end of one's name, or appears in place of the name itself (example: "Hiroko-sensei." or simply "Sensei!")

Honorifics can be expressions of respect or endearment. In the context of manga, anime and even live-action dramas, honorifics give insight into the nature of the relationship between characters. Many English translations leave out these important honorifics and therefore distort the feel of the original Japanese.

Throughout the mangas, animes, and Japanese dramas, you will find Japanese honorifics either written or mentioned every time. For those not familiar with how the Japanese use honorifics and, more important, how they differ from American honorifics, I present this brief overview...

-san（ーさん）
This is the most common honorific and is equivalent to Mr., Miss, Ms., or Mrs. It is the all-purpose honorific that can be used in any situation where politeness is required.

-sama（ーさま）
This is one level higher than "-san" and is used to confer great respect. Can be used with titles as well as names. Usually can be heard when addressing an elite person, or a master.

-dono（ーどの）
This comes from the word "tono", which means "lord." It is an even higher level than "-sama" and confers utmost respect. It is almost never used nowadays. However, it can be usually heard in animes and live-action dramas featuring a historical period and setting.

-kun（ーくん）
The suffix is used at the end of boys' names to express familiarity or endearment. It is also sometimes used by men among friends, or when addressing someone younger or of a lower position. Usually, girls and women can also use the term for men whom they are well-associated with. Girls do not use "-kun" when addressing other girls. In the case of a boy using "-kun" to a girl, they are usually classmates or co-workers.

-chan（ーちゃん）
This is used to express endearment, mostly toward girls. It is also used for little boys, pets, and even among lovers. It gives a sense of childish cuteness.

Bozu（ーぼず）
This is an informal way to refer to a boy, similar to the English terms "kid" and "squirt".

Senpai (pronounced as Sempai)（先輩）
This title suggests that the addressee is one's senior in a group or organization. It is most often used in a school setting, where underclassmen refer to their upperclassmen as "senpai". It can also be used in the workplace, such as when a newer employee addresses and employee who has seniority in the company.

Kouhai（後輩）
This is the opposite of "senpai" and is used toward underclassmen in school or newcomers in the workplace. It denotes that the addressee is of a lower position.

Sensei（先生）
Literally meaning "one who has come before", this title is used for teachers, doctors, or masters of any profession or art.

-[blank]
This is usually forgotten in the lists, but it is perhaps the most significant difference between Japanese and English. The lack of honorific means that the speaker has permission to address the person in a very intimate way. Usually, only family, spouses, or very close friends have this kind of permission. Known as yobisute（呼び捨て）, it can be gratifying when someone who has earned the intimacy starts to call one by one's name without an honorific. But when that intimacy hasn't been earned, it can be very insulting.