# Japanese language question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-question/57679>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 12, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-question/57679 "2001-03-12T18:12:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-question/57679/1 "2001-03-12T18:12:08Z")

</div>

When should -san, -chan, or -kun be used to address people? What other address terms are there, and how are they used?

Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-question/57679/2 "2001-03-12T18:20:42Z")

</div>

Add -san to the name (either family name or given name) of anyone you meet that you are not very close to. It is roughly equivalent to Mr, but is unisex. -chan is only for children or somebody you feel affectionate towards. -kun is for boys.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-question/57679/3 "2001-03-12T21:20:50Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by hibernicus \*  
> **-kun is for boys.**

Traditionally, it’s only been used for guys (Especially for students/subordinants), but people are starting to use it for girls of the same ages. (-chan for primary and junior high school, -kun beyond.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-question/57679/4 "2001-03-13T01:20:15Z")

</div>

Also -sama is used like -san but in situations where great respect is called for. **Tengu** , that’s very interesting about -kun for girls!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rayniday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecc23a/32.png) [@rayniday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayniday)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-question/57679/5 "2001-03-13T16:46:13Z")

</div>

sama-great respect, such as royalty or god(s)

san-equivalent to Mr., Mrs.

kun-Used for the younger

chan-can be used for the young, but I call people I know and love by this addition. (Erin-chan, Paul-chan, Ry-chan, Stefi-chan). Ryan’s older than me, and Paul and Erin are younger.

ko-used to denominate a girl (girl’s name?)

oneesan-older sister?

sempai-upperclassman