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	<title>Otaku International &#187; honorifics</title>
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		<title>Japanese Honorific Titles. When do you use Chan, Kun, San, Sama?</title>
		<link>http://otakuinternational.com/2008/08/japanese-honorific-titles/</link>
		<comments>http://otakuinternational.com/2008/08/japanese-honorific-titles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:26:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>BZou</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honorific titles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honorifics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[japanese]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I know for many of you out there, these honorific titles may be a very simple thing for you. Especially for those who are constantly watching Anime or reading Manga series. However, don&#8217;t go assuming ...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I know for many of you out there, these honorific titles may be a very simple thing for you. Especially for those who are constantly watching Anime or reading Manga series. However, don&#8217;t go assuming that everyone knows the differences. In fact I had to wikipedia and read some blogs dealing with this before I learned about each title.</p>
<p>As you all know, I cannot speak Japanese, however, I feel that I have researched this enough to give a brief explanation of Japanese honorific titles.Ã‚Â  So let us begin!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a rel="lightbox" href="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/1.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="254" /></a></p>
<p><span id="more-136"></span></p>
<p>I will be using excerpts from <a href="http://www.tofugu.com/" target="new">tofugu.com</a> because he did a great job explaining the titles, much better than I ever could.</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" rel="lightbox" href="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/3.jpg"><img class="alignright" src="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/3.jpg" alt="" width="252" height="142" /></a></p>
<h3><strong>San: </strong></h3>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Overview</span>: This is the most common. It can be used on boys or girls. It can be used in formal and (somewhat) informal situations. Pretty much, <em>san</em> is your fail safe when you donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t know which one to use. You probably wonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t get in trouble if you use this one, so itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s good to use with frequency.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Do Not</span>: Refer to yourself as [your name]-san. This is very rude. You might as well start asking people to get on their knees and bow down to you. Only use this on other people.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Other Uses</span>: You can also attach <em>san</em> to some nouns, usually jobs. For example, booksellers are called honya-san. I know that some uses like this are more common than others so IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d say itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s best not to jump to conclusions and start turning every noun you see into name-honorific enders.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Trivial Fact:</span> Ever notice how a lot of Japanese user names on the net end with three? I just read this on Wikipedia, and it completely makes sense. Since the number three in Japanese is <em>san</em>, some people use this to end their names. I think itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s clever, anyways.</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" rel="lightbox" href="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/2.jpg"><img class="alignright" src="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/2.jpg" alt="" width="252" height="142" /></a></p>
<h3>Sama</h3>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Overview</span>: Most likely, youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll never run into an appropriate situation to use <em>sama</em>,<br />
unless of course you want to be a little sarcastic. The only time<br />
youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be using sama is if 1) youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re working for a company and youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re<br />
talking to a customer, or 2) you want to be sarcastic about someone who<br />
thinks really highly about themselves.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Do Not</span>: EVER refer<br />
to yourself as samaÃ¢â‚¬Â¦well, that is, unless youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re making fun of<br />
yourself. Otherwise, thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s no reason to do it, and if you do it with<br />
a serious face, people will think youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re a big stuck up snob.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Trivial Fact:</span> Apparently, thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s also a Ã¢â‚¬Å“ChamaÃ¢â‚¬Â version of <em>sama.</em> Typically, you would use this when talking to someone who is older.</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" rel="lightbox" href="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/4.jpg"><img class="alignright" src="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/4.jpg" alt="" width="229" height="164" /></a></p>
<h3>Kun</h3>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Overview</span>: This is where you start getting more casual. <em>Kun</em> is primarily used when referring to other males, usually by someone of high status to someone younger / lower status than them. A good example would be a teacher talking to a (usually male) student. Some (masculine) females get called (name)-kun, though this is less common.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Do Not</span>: Use this on someone of higher status than you. That means teachers, people that are older than you, parents, etc. You get the picture. If you arenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t sure, then just use <em>san</em> &#8211; at least youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be safe that way.</p>
<p><a class="thickbox" rel="lightbox" href="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/5.jpg"><img class="alignright" src="http://otakuinternational.com/images/aug1-08posting/5.jpg" alt="" width="229" height="164" /></a></p>
<h3>Chan</h3>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Overview</span>: Now weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re in deep waters. <em>Chan</em> is primarily used on children, female family members, lovers, and close friends. Really, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a term of endearment. Often times, oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s name will be shortened to add <em>chan </em>to it. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Do Not</span>: (once again), use it on anyone of higher status than you. If you are using <em>chan</em>, the person should be much younger, or you better know that person really well.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Trivial Fact</span>: Unlike all the other name honorifics, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s actually not too horrible to refer to yourself and add the <em>chan</em> to the end. Children do this a lot, but so do some adults. Adding <em>chan</em> to a name can sometimes become a nickname thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s used instead of the real name, at which point it becomes acceptable to refer to yourself while using the honorific.</p>
<p>Another interesting thing about <em>chan</em> is that it is paired up with ojii and obaa (oji-chan / oba-chan), roughly meaning grandma and grandpa. Once Gma and Gpa get old, they come full circle, and you get to use the honorific reserved for children on them. Poor guys.</p>
<hr />Well now that you have had a little crash course on the honorifics, hopefully it&#8217;ll come of use if you ever decide to go to Japan. Nothing like being a foreigner saying the wrong thing to incur the locals wrath, if you know what I mean.</p>
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<p>Excerpt from: <a href="http://www.tofugu.com/" target="new">tofugu.com</a></p>
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