You are viewing our Forum Archives. To view or take place in current topics click here.
Can Someone Explain to me What San, Kun, Chan, or Sama Means
Posted:

Can Someone Explain to me What San, Kun, Chan, or Sama MeansPosted:

VPN
  • Christmas!
Status: Offline
Joined: Apr 28, 201311Year Member
Posts: 2,771
Reputation Power: 138
Status: Offline
Joined: Apr 28, 201311Year Member
Posts: 2,771
Reputation Power: 138
Hey, I have watched Naruto and Sword Art Online in subbed since November. I always hear San, Kun, Chan, or Sama after a name. Like Sasuke-Kun, Asuna-San, Tsunade-Sama, or Madara-Sama. I'm pretty sure these have something to do with addressing someone in Japanese.
#2. Posted:
Veela
  • TTG Senior
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 13, 20159Year Member
Posts: 1,069
Reputation Power: 79
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 13, 20159Year Member
Posts: 1,069
Reputation Power: 79
San:
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, san is your fail safe when you dont know which one ot use. You probably wont get in trouble if you use this one, so its good to use with frequency.


Sama:
Most likely, youll never run into an appropriate situation to use sama, unless of course you want to be a little sarcastic. The only time youll be using sama is if 1) youre working for a company and youre talking to a customer, or 2) you want to be sarcastic about someone who thinks really highly about themselves.


Kun:
This is where you start getting more casual. Kun is primarily used when refering 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.


Chan:
Now were in deep waters. Chan is primarily used on children, female family members, lovers, and close friends. Really, its a term of indearment. Often times, ones name will be shortened to add chan to it.
#3. Posted:
VPN
  • TTG Addict
Status: Offline
Joined: Apr 28, 201311Year Member
Posts: 2,771
Reputation Power: 138
Status: Offline
Joined: Apr 28, 201311Year Member
Posts: 2,771
Reputation Power: 138
Yuno_Gasai wrote San:
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, san is your fail safe when you dont know which one ot use. You probably wont get in trouble if you use this one, so its good to use with frequency.


Sama:
Most likely, youll never run into an appropriate situation to use sama, unless of course you want to be a little sarcastic. The only time youll be using sama is if 1) youre working for a company and youre talking to a customer, or 2) you want to be sarcastic about someone who thinks really highly about themselves.


Kun:
This is where you start getting more casual. Kun is primarily used when refering 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.


Chan:
Now were in deep waters. Chan is primarily used on children, female family members, lovers, and close friends. Really, its a term of indearment. Often times, ones name will be shortened to add chan to it.


Thanks a lot. I will be studying this to keep it in my mind.
#4. Posted:
Boar
  • TTG Addict
Status: Offline
Joined: Jul 25, 201013Year Member
Posts: 2,132
Reputation Power: 308
Status: Offline
Joined: Jul 25, 201013Year Member
Posts: 2,132
Reputation Power: 308
VPN wrote Hey, I have watched Naruto and Sword Art Online in subbed since November. I always hear San, Kun, Chan, or Sama after a name. Like Sasuke-Kun, Asuna-San, Tsunade-Sama, or Madara-Sama. I'm pretty sure these have something to do with addressing someone in Japanese.


San is a sign of respect for both genders, basically like saying Mr.*****

Sama is a more respectful version of San used for people of higher status or rank than you

Kun is used among male friends, if a senior person is referring to someone younger than them or if anyone is referring to young male childern

Chan is used if you have an affection for someone. Typically you can use it for pets, your lovers or very close friends although typically in Japan you will only use Chan for female friends as a lot of males will prefer Kun.

Typically speaking people in Japan really dislike being called this unless it's in good context. IE if you were to call some random guy you just met "Kun" he'd probably be offended.

Also as a rule of thumb honorifics like these never get applied to yourself by yourself, when I was learning Japanese I used to refer to myself as "Inoshishi-Kun" (Boar) until I got told it can be seen as disrespectful.
#5. Posted:
Veela
  • V5 Launch
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 13, 20159Year Member
Posts: 1,069
Reputation Power: 79
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 13, 20159Year Member
Posts: 1,069
Reputation Power: 79
VPN wrote
Yuno_Gasai wrote San:
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, san is your fail safe when you dont know which one ot use. You probably wont get in trouble if you use this one, so its good to use with frequency.


Sama:
Most likely, youll never run into an appropriate situation to use sama, unless of course you want to be a little sarcastic. The only time youll be using sama is if 1) youre working for a company and youre talking to a customer, or 2) you want to be sarcastic about someone who thinks really highly about themselves.


Kun:
This is where you start getting more casual. Kun is primarily used when refering 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.


Chan:
Now were in deep waters. Chan is primarily used on children, female family members, lovers, and close friends. Really, its a term of indearment. Often times, ones name will be shortened to add chan to it.


Thanks a lot. I will be studying this to keep it in my mind.


no problem hope it helped
#6. Posted:
KatsumiChan
  • Comment King
Status: Offline
Joined: Mar 08, 201014Year Member
Posts: 3,544
Reputation Power: 206
Status: Offline
Joined: Mar 08, 201014Year Member
Posts: 3,544
Reputation Power: 206
Boar wrote
VPN wrote Hey, I have watched Naruto and Sword Art Online in subbed since November. I always hear San, Kun, Chan, or Sama after a name. Like Sasuke-Kun, Asuna-San, Tsunade-Sama, or Madara-Sama. I'm pretty sure these have something to do with addressing someone in Japanese.


San is a sign of respect for both genders, basically like saying Mr.*****

Sama is a more respectful version of San used for people of higher status or rank than you

Kun is used among male friends, if a senior person is referring to someone younger than them or if anyone is referring to young male childern

Chan is used if you have an affection for someone. Typically you can use it for pets, your lovers or very close friends although typically in Japan you will only use Chan for female friends as a lot of males will prefer Kun.

Typically speaking people in Japan really dislike being called this unless it's in good context. IE if you were to call some random guy you just met "Kun" he'd probably be offended.

Also as a rule of thumb honorifics like these never get applied to yourself by yourself, when I was learning Japanese I used to refer to myself as "Inoshishi-Kun" (Boar) until I got told it can be seen as disrespectful.


Chan is both Formal, and Informal it depends on your relationship WITH the person. It's normally used with Females. Almost everyone uses it as such. Although it's not limited to girls. It's not limited to Affection either. By this I mean it's usually used when you know the person, but it's still "correct" to call someone you know Chan, sort of like an acquittance.

Kun is informal for a Male Friend, It is also used for a male younger than you.
Jump to:
You are viewing our Forum Archives. To view or take place in current topics click here.