Japanese Etiquette: Basic Honorifics

Understanding honorifics is essential for polite and effective communication in Japanese. These suffixes, added to names and titles, convey respect, familiarity, social hierarchy, and a range of subtle nuances. Using them correctly is crucial for navigating social situations smoothly.

Common Japanese Honorifics

Honorific	Usage Example	Romaji	English Translation	Description	Nuances & Considerations
さん	田中さん	Tanaka-san	Mr./Ms./Mx. Tanaka	The most common and neutral honorific. Used for most people, regardless of age or gender.	Good starting point when unsure. Avoid using with your own name.
ちゃん	さくらちゃん	Sakura-chan	Little Sakura, Sakura (endearing)	Affectionate, mainly used for children (especially girls), close female friends, babies, or pets. Implies a sense of cuteness and closeness.	Can be patronizing if used for adults without permission or a pre-existing close relationship.
くん	太郎くん	Tarou-kun	Tarou (endearing)	Used for boys or younger men, often by superiors or those in a senior position. Can also be used for female juniors in workplaces or schools, though less common than for males.	Implies a sense of familiarity and perhaps mild condescension (depending on the context). Consider workplace dynamics before using on female colleagues.
さま	お客様	Okyaku-sama	Honored guest, Esteemed Customer	Very polite and formal, used for customers (especially in retail or service industries), deities (神様 kami-sama), or someone of much higher status to show great respect.	Avoid using casually. Reserved for situations demanding utmost politeness. Can sound overly subservient if used in inappropriate contexts.
せんぱい	先輩	Senpai	Senior, Upperclassman	Used for senior colleagues, students, or those with more experience in a particular field (e.g., at school, work, or in a club).	Focuses on seniority based on experience or year of entry. Shows respect for guidance and knowledge.
こうはい	後輩	Kouhai	Junior, Underclassman	Used for junior colleagues, students, or those with less experience.	Often used by senpai when referring to kouhai. Be mindful of sounding condescending.
せんせい	先生	Sensei	Teacher, Doctor, Master	Used for teachers, doctors, professors, lawyers, authors, artists, and other professionals who are considered masters of their craft or who provide guidance.	Conveys respect for knowledge and expertise. Not necessarily limited to formal education.
し	鈴木氏	Suzuki-shi	Mr./Ms./Mx. Suzuki	Very formal, used primarily in writing (newspapers, formal documents) or in very formal speech, often when referring to someone unknown or without a personal connection.	Impersonal and objective. Rarely used in everyday conversation. Useful when discussing someone neutrally, especially in journalistic contexts.
殿 (どの)	山田殿	Yamada-dono	Mr./Ms./Mx. Yamada (formal)	An older, very formal honorific. Used in official documents, certificates, and sometimes in business correspondence. Less common in modern spoken Japanese.	Often seen in historical dramas. Carries a strong sense of deference.

How to Use Honorifics

Attach the honorific after the person's family name or full name (e.g., 山田さん Yamada-san, 田中太郎さん Tanaka Tarou-san). Using it with only the given name can be overly familiar, unless you are very close to the person. However, using "chan" or "kun" with the given name can be accepted/expected within close friendship.
Never use honorifics when referring to yourself. It sounds arrogant and unnatural. Only use them when referring to other people.
Using the wrong honorific can be rude, awkward, or even offensive. Pay attention to the context, your relationship with the person, and the social situation. If you are unsure it is always best to stick with "-san".

Adding Extra Politeness - O- (お) and Go- (ご) Prefixes

In addition to honorific suffixes, Japanese also uses prefixes to add politeness to words. The most common are o- (お) and go- (ご).

お (o-): Generally used with native Japanese words (wago 和語).
- お名前 (onamae): Honorable name
- お茶 (ocha): Honorable tea
- お酒 (osake): Honorable sake
ご (go-): Generally used with Sino-Japanese words (kango 漢語, words derived from Chinese).
- ご住所 (gojūsho): Honorable address
- ご家族 (gokazoku): Honorable family
- ご意見 (goiken): Honorable opinion

However, there are exceptions to this rule! Some common exceptions include:

お電話 (odenwa): Honorable phone call (電話 denwa is a kango).
ご飯 (gohan): Rice / Meal (ご飯 is often written in hiragana despite being kango)

These prefixes add a layer of politeness and respect, making your language sound more refined.

Example Sentences

これは田中さんの本です。 Kore wa Tanaka-san no hon desu. This is Mr./Ms./Mx. Tanaka's book.
さくらちゃんはどこですか？ Sakura-chan wa doko desu ka? Where is little Sakura? (Where's Sakura, said in an affectionate way?)
先生に質問があります。 Sensei ni shitsumon ga arimasu. I have a question for the teacher/doctor/master.
社長、おはようございます。 Shachō, ohayō gozaimasu. President (of the company), good morning. (Addressing the company president with respect.)
こちらは、鈴木様でございます。 Kochira wa, Suzuki-sama de gozaimasu. This is Mr./Ms./Mx. Suzuki. (Very polite introduction, often used in formal settings.)
課長、この件について、ご意見をお聞かせください。 Kachō, kono ken ni tsuite, go-iken o okikase kudasai. Section Chief, please let me know your opinion about this matter. (Using go- and requesting an opinion politely.)

Tips

When in doubt, use さん (-san), as it is the safest and most neutral honorific. It's always better to err on the side of politeness.
Observe how others address each other in different settings. Pay attention to the social dynamics and relationships. This is crucial for learning the appropriate usage. Watch Japanese dramas, movies, and anime, and listen to how characters address each other.
Pay attention to context! The level of politeness required depends on the situation. A casual conversation with friends will be different from a business meeting.
Consider the age and status of the person you are addressing.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Using honorifics for yourself: As mentioned before, never use honorifics when talking about yourself. It comes across as arrogant or childish.
Overusing "-sama": While "-sama" is very polite, using it too frequently can sound overly formal or even sarcastic in some situations.
Ignoring seniority: In many Japanese contexts, seniority matters. Using the appropriate honorific for seniors (especially senpai) is crucial.
Applying western social norms: Don't assume that Western rules of familiarity apply to Japanese. It takes time to build a relationship where using more familiar honorifics like "-chan" or "-kun" is appropriate.
Assuming equivalence of honorifics: English titles like Mr./Ms. do not always perfectly translate to Japanese honorifics. "-san" is a good starting point, but understand the more specific meanings of other honorifics.

Exercises/Quizzes

Exercise 1: Which honorific would you use? (Answer inside)

Choose the most appropriate honorific in the following situations:

You are introducing your friend, Tanaka Sakura, to your professor.
You are addressing a doctor at a hospital.
You are talking about a famous author in a newspaper article.
You are talking to your little sister (6 years old).
You are addressing the CEO of your company.

Answer to Exercise 1:

1. Tanaka-san 2. Sensei 3. Suzuki-shi (assuming neutral journalistic reporting) 4. Sakura-chan 5. Shachō (社長 = President), or CEO's last name + "shachō"

Exercise 2: Translate the following (Answer Inside)

Translate the following sentences into Japanese, including appropriate honorifics:

"Good morning, Mr. Yamada." (to a colleague)
"Where is Taro-kun?"
"I have a question for Professor Tanaka."

Answer to Exercise 2:

1. 山田さん、おはようございます。(Yamada-san, ohayō gozaimasu.) 2. 太郎くんはどこですか？(Tarō-kun wa doko desu ka?) 3. 田中先生に質問があります。(Tanaka-sensei ni shitsumon ga arimasu.)

Exercise 3: True or False (Answer Inside)

Are the following statements True or False?

It's appropriate to use -sama with your own name.
-kun is generally used for younger males or colleagues of lower rank.
-senpai is used for someone with less experience than you.
When in doubt, using -san is a safe bet.
O- and Go- are exclusively used for names.

Answer to Exercise 3:

1. False 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. False

Learning to use honorifics correctly is a continuous process of observation and practice. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and always be mindful of the context and your relationship with the person you are speaking to. With practice, you'll become more comfortable and confident in using honorifics appropriately. Remember to listen carefully to native speakers and pay attention to how they address each other. This is the best way to learn the nuances of Japanese honorifics.