How do you use these japanese words?

Question

there is always like an extension in names like -kun, -san, -chan and etc. but how do you use these extensions when you call somebody? is there a criteria?

Answer 1

Hello,

I'd like to disagree with the answer above.

Here is my answer

chan - this is an affectionate suffix to someone's name. Perhaps a family member (brother, sister etc). My friend from Japan calls her husband his name followed by chan, it's just an affectionate suffix.

san - this can be added to practically any name. Friend, family member, PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T MET BEFORE, and other such names. Practically anyone can be addressed with san as the suffix.

kun - is predominantly used for people who are young. MAINLY males, males under 18 or significantly younger than you can be addressed with kun as the suffix. My friend from Japan (in her 50's) refers to me as "Beau-kun" (I'm 15) whereas she addresses my sisters with san. Kun can, but very rarely, be used for younger women.

Hope this helps you!

Beau

Answer 2

If in doubt, use -san.

If you are young, you have the following options for friends:

A guy younger than you or emotionally attached: -kun

A girl younger than you or emotionally attached: -chan

No suffix, just the first name.

If you are a middle aged man use -kun for your young coworkers of lower status.

A small child: -chan.

You may also use -chan for small animals and -san for big animals.

For a teacher, doctor etc. use -sensei!

You can use sensei without a name.

For a very honorable older person use -sama.

Note that in some cases you just use the job title. For example shachō (CEO).

Answer 3

There are quite a few honorific expressions that can be added to both first and last names. I will try and explain some of the more common ones.

First of all, Japanese people usually don't say the names of people not in their in-group (close relatives, friends) without using some kind of honorific suffix. Just calling a person by their name (without one of these honorifics) is called "yobisute" and it's consider to be pretty rude. So, they use a honorific to make it more polite. Even if the person is your subordinate you should never yobisute. It will reflect really badly on you.

"San" is a honorific that is considered to be not too polite and not too casual. It can be used for men or women, young or old. It is just basic politeness and is probably the most commonly used of all these suffixes.

"Sama" is a more polite version of "san". Like "san" it can be used for both men and women, young and old. Usually "sama" is used in more formal situations or when talking about someone very high in social status such as members of the Japanese Imperial Family or other VIPs. When the Japanese media refers to the Imperial Family they always use the suffix "sama".

"Chan" is a more casual version that "san". It is usually used when refering to young girls or women and implies a closeness and familiarity that "san" doesn't. While it is usually used for girls in can be used for little boys or in playful cute way for some men. But, you probably shouldn't go around calling grown men "chan" and some young boys might get a little upset too. You should only use "chan" with people you know pretty well.

"Kun" is probably the hardest one for most people to understand and they usually get it wrong. Generally, like "chan", "kun" is used with respect to young boys and is more casual than "san". But, "kun" can also be used by adults to address other adults. Usually, one of the adults is of higher status ( for example: a boss) and they use "kun" to address their employees (men or women). Also, "kun" can be very polite and used respectively when refering to other members of the same organization. For example, "kun" is the expression that is often used by members of the Japanese Parliment (men or women) to address each other.  

I'm much older than 18 and I've been called x*x-kun by many of my bosses before. I've also worked in Japanese companies in Japan where Japanese superiors (men and women) have used "kun"  to refer to both their male and female staff members. It's quite common. So, "kun" is not just for little boys like most people think.

Answer 4

-san is for people of the same rank. For example I call my collegues at work xx-san, if they are same rank or higher. I would use -kun for a collegue at work, when he is much younger or much lower in rank than me.

-kun is for people of lower rank, is restricted to male people. For example I call my son xx-kun.

-chan is restricted to girls mostly, but can also be used towards men, if you want to speak in a very friendly way. For example I call my wife xx-chan.