Japanese Honorifics: Difference between revisions

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See also [[Japanese Pronouns]], [[Keigo]], [[Korean Honorifics]].
 
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== '''<big>Honorifics used only as suffixes ==</big>'''
 
;''-san''
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;''-sama''
: A term of great respect, one step higher than ''-san''. In fantasy or historical contexts, it's generally translated as lord/lady or a similar term, but since modern English really has no honorific expressing such extreme deference, Mr. or Ms. usually has to do. In situations where there isn't a massive gap in social status between the speaker and the person being addressed, the use of ''-sama'' can border on grovelling. However, it has some standard uses: it's a flattering way for a business to address its customers and clients; it's used when addressing letters to friends; and a young woman may playfully use it for a guy she has a massive crush on.
** In rare cases, ''-sama'' can also be used sarcastically to indicate extreme ''dis''respect. The pejorative [[Japanese Pronouns|second-person pronoun]] ''kisama'' is written with kanji that mean something like "honored sir," but today the real meaning of the term is more along the lines of "you bastard." (In military parlance, it keeps its old respectful sense, which is an endless source of jokes among civilians.) Men who want to express over-the-top arrogance can attach ''-sama'' to the macho and aggressive first person pronoun ''ore'' and refer to themselves as ''ore-sama'', something like "my magnificent self."
 
;''-dono''
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;''-chan''
: A general term of endearment with overtones of intense cuteness, most frequently used for (and between) girls, but also applicable to pets, small children regardless of gender, friends, lovers. Making it part of a nickname is even more so, and is done primarily for little kids, [[Kawaiiko]] teen girls, close friends (regardless of gender), or lovers (for whom it is especially intimate). Sometimes translated as 'little'; for example, '[[Witch Hunter Robin|Robin-chan]]' becoming 'little Robin', sometimes translated as "-baby" (as in [[Ranma ½|Kuno-baby]]). Literally speaking, it's the diminutive -- a cultural equivalent to calling your friend "Jimmy" instead of just plain Jim. Technically speaking, it's what would properly be termed the ''affectionate'' diminutive. However, as the "Kuno-baby" example shows, it can also be used as a ''derisive'' diminutive, depending upon context and tone.
** "-chan" is generally considered informal, except for "bocchan" which is a polite way to address or refer to someone's young son. (It can also refer to a wealthy young man of high social standing, roughly the equivalent of "young master".)
 
;''-chin''
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: Indicates nobility; most commonly applied to women.
 
== '''<big>Honorifics also used as regular words ==</big>'''
 
;''-[[Senpai Kohai|senpai/-sempai]]''
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: One level below ''-kun'' on the formality ladder. It's an affectionate masculine diminutive, how one might address a particularly young niece or nephew. Roughly equivalent to addressing someone with a nickname like "squirt" or in a friendly tone calling them "twerp", ''or'' to express mild irritation/annoyance.
 
== '''<big>Other things ==</big>'''
 
As noted above, ''-dono'' comes from the word ''tono'', meaning "lord". Several other terms for social rank seem to be used as honorifics as well, most notably ''-oujo'' and ''-hime'', both of which mean "princess". ''[[Ojou|"-ojou" or "-ojousama"]]'' is regularly used for girls from very well-to-do families.
 
Using no honorific at all (called ''yobisute'') is also an honorific -- it's a "null honorific", and it means the speaker is addressing the person to whom he is speaking in an intimate and familiar manner usually restricted to family, spouses or one's closest friends. Usually, this is only done when [[First-Name Basis]] permission is granted by the subject. Using no honorific without such permission is a grave insult; this is a subtlety lost on many foreign visitors, who offend people with no idea that they're doing so (although nowadays this is generally not the case for most foreigners since most Japanese understand that most foreigners do not use honorifics). Addressing someone in ''yobisute'' for the first time frequently marks an important point in a [[Romance Arc]] or friendship.
 
 
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== Anime and Manga ==
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[[Category:Useful Notes/Japan]]
[[Category:Japanese Honorifics]]
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