Name suffixes: さん, くん, ちゃん, さま
What to put after someone's name, and never after your own.要点The idea
Japanese puts a suffix after a name to show the relationship, and さん is the safe default for almost anyone.| Suffix | Used for | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 〜さん~san | almost anyone: colleagues, strangers, shop staff | polite, neutral |
| 〜くん~kun | boys, male friends and juniors (at work, a boss may use it for any junior, women included) | friendly, a little familiar |
| 〜ちゃん~chan | children, close friends, family, pets | cute, affectionate |
| 〜様さま~sama | customers, letters, very respected people | very formal |
田中たなかさん、 今いま 少すこし いい です か？tanaka-san, ima sukoshi ii desu ka?Mr/Ms Tanaka, do you have a moment?
健太けんたくん、 元気げんき？kenta-kun, genki?Kenta, how's it going?
あやちゃん、 一緒いっしょ に 帰かえろう。aya-chan, issho ni kaerou.Aya, let's walk home together.
お客きゃく様さま、 こちら へ どうぞ。okyakusama, kochira e douzo.This way, please (to a customer).Staff address customers as お客きゃく様さま: you'll hear it in every shop.
A山田やまださん は 来きます か？yamada-san wa kimasu ka?Is Yamada-san coming?
B山田やまだくん は 来きます か？yamada-kun wa kimasu ka?Is Yamada-kun coming?Yamada is a boy or a younger man you know.