post #747752 post #2037733 post #2822286

A Japanese honorific is a title in the Japanese language that expresses esteem, courtesy or respect for a position or rank when used to address or refer to a person.

The title must be in Japanese for this tag to be used, although the text outside of the title do not have to be in Japanese.

In Japanese, the most used are:

• さん (san) – Mr/Ms/Miss/Mrs
• 様 (さま, sama) – More polite than さん: "Sir"/"Madam"
• 君(クン, KUN) – More informal; never used for strangers or superiors: "My little..."/"Buddy"
• ちゃん (chan) – Informal, cute suffix, a bit feminine but can be used regardless of the gender: "My sweet..."
• たん (tan) – Derived from ちゃん, voluntary mispronounced in the manner of a child, cuter version: "My sweet little baby..."
• 氏 (シ, SHI) – Used to show respect to someone that the speaker don't know directly, for formal speeches, on the news, for legal documents: "Mister"/"Madam"
• 先生 (センセイ, SENSĒ) – Used for a specialist in their domain (for a teacher, but not only); can be used on its own, without a name before: "Teacher", "Mister/Miss Mangaka", "Mister/Miss Artist", "Coach", "Doctor", etc.
• 博士 (はかせ, hakase) – Used for a person with a doctorate: "Dr."/"PhD"
• 先輩 (センパイ, SENPAI) – Used for an older or higher-level person in the same category as oneself: "Senior"
• 後輩 (コウハイ, KŌHAI) – Opposite term, Used for a younger or lower-level person in the same category as oneself: "Junior"

Examples of utilization

• When a student is speaking to a teacher
• When a employee addresses their boss
• When a patient greets their doctor

List of Japanese honorifics

Related tags:

• english honorific
• greeting
• greeting viewer – When the greeting is made for the viewer
• name in dialogue/name drop - When a name is placed before or after a title

See also:

• nobility
• profanity
• insult – Used also for derogatory titles
• term of endearment