Japanese honorifics

In Japan, emphasis is placed on etiquette and good manners, which is also reflected in the Japanese styling. These are an essential part of the Japanese polite language.

First and Last Name

The use of the first name possible with additional, points in Japanese either very large personal closeness to the person addressed towards, or is simply grossly impolite.

In Japanese, the name is called before the nickname. In the translated texts for foreigners, however, often (but not always) is used in the usual German name order first name, last name.

Suffixes

At the name suffix is ​​usually appended. Also, academic, professional and military titles will be indicated by these additives. There are both styling that will be exclusively used as a suffix (such as -san or -dono ), as well as styling that can be used stand-alone without the name (such as sensei, senpai or Bucho ).

• ( just the name )

• - Bucho部长

• -chanちゃん

• -tanたん

• -dono or - tono殿(literally " Prince " )

• - hakase博士

• -kun君

• - sama様(literally "appearance, appearance " )

• -sanさん

• -senpai/sempai先辈(a name need not necessarily be preceded by )

• ( be a name does not necessarily have preceded ) -sensei先生(literally " born before " )

• -shi氏

• - neechan姉ちゃんor neesan姉さん(a name need not necessarily be preceded by )

• - niichan兄ちゃんor niisan兄さん(a name need not necessarily be preceded by )

Other phrases

Related to one another using highly differentiated gradations. For example, onee -chan, onee -san or onee -sama all mean " older sister ", but featuring a different social or relationship of trust of the respective persons.

Job titles as address

Sometimes rank, official or professional designations are used in the salutation. In such a case, no additional -san will be attached. For example, the former prime minister also called Koizumi sōridaijin (小泉 総 理 大臣). In companies such as title Kacho (课 长, " Section Head " ) usually without the surname used alone, unless several department heads are present.