Post by Soji Okita on Dec 28, 2005 18:55:21 GMT -5
Honorifics:
"-SAN" carries the meaning of "Mr." or "Ms." or "Mrs." You just ad it, with a hyphen, to the end of someone's name (like Magumi always calls Kenshin Ken-san-we have no time for Barbie-san jokes)
"-KUN" is a status indicator- a senior person would use it to refer to a more junior person. It can also be a sign of familiarity and affection. It's kinda the equivalent of "homeboy." It's more for boys.
"-CHAN" you can still use today, in regard to a little child. How does it differ from "kun"? It's cuter, more like a nickname. But use it cautiously with anyone who isn't a kid. It's more for girls.
"-SAMA" is a respectful form of "san." It's used to address someone like a dignitary, customer or famous actor. Fans often refer to their idols as (pop stars, actors, SHONEN JUMP editors
) as "sama". (They refer to manga creators or manga-ka as "sensei") Politicians, doctors and teachers are addressed as "sensei" not "sama."
"-DONO" is even more respectful then "sama." It was used to show humility. Nowadays, the only place it's used is in written correspondence, out of formality, by hotel staff, or on documents when you graduate from school.
Unless you want to sound like you just showed up from ye olde Nippon, don't' go calling yourself "SESSHA." That is, unless you normally go around saying things like "thou" and "my liege."
-SHONEN JUMP DEC. No. 36 2005
Family Honorifics: www.kyokipress.com/wings/honorifics.html
"-SAN" carries the meaning of "Mr." or "Ms." or "Mrs." You just ad it, with a hyphen, to the end of someone's name (like Magumi always calls Kenshin Ken-san-we have no time for Barbie-san jokes)
"-KUN" is a status indicator- a senior person would use it to refer to a more junior person. It can also be a sign of familiarity and affection. It's kinda the equivalent of "homeboy." It's more for boys.
"-CHAN" you can still use today, in regard to a little child. How does it differ from "kun"? It's cuter, more like a nickname. But use it cautiously with anyone who isn't a kid. It's more for girls.
"-SAMA" is a respectful form of "san." It's used to address someone like a dignitary, customer or famous actor. Fans often refer to their idols as (pop stars, actors, SHONEN JUMP editors
) as "sama". (They refer to manga creators or manga-ka as "sensei") Politicians, doctors and teachers are addressed as "sensei" not "sama.""-DONO" is even more respectful then "sama." It was used to show humility. Nowadays, the only place it's used is in written correspondence, out of formality, by hotel staff, or on documents when you graduate from school.
Unless you want to sound like you just showed up from ye olde Nippon, don't' go calling yourself "SESSHA." That is, unless you normally go around saying things like "thou" and "my liege."
-SHONEN JUMP DEC. No. 36 2005
Family Honorifics: www.kyokipress.com/wings/honorifics.html
