"Honorific", in linguistic lingo, refers to the little prefixes, suffixes, or titles that are added to a name in most languages, like "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Dr.", "Sir" and the like. Japanese, naturally, has them. One interesting feature, however, is that there are far more of them with far more nuances of meaning than there are in other languages. They can be either attached to the end of a name, or in some cases (such as "sensei", much like the English "Professor" or "Doctor") can be used as standalone substitutes for names. Show Advertisement: Etiquette is a critical part of Japanese language and culture, and honorifics play a key element in that. In general, they are expressions of respect or endearment, but as with many terms in many languages, delivery tone and emphasis can change a title of utmost honor into a sarcastic insult. Using the wrong honorific, or the right honorific in the wrong way, can result in anything from simple disdain to (in feudal times, at least) clan warfare. Nowadays, they are used without explanation in English translations, more often in subtitles or translations of manga than in dubs. This makes sense in context; the use of a particular honorific carries a lot of weight for the relationship between characters and how it develops, and trying to explain why Character A dropped the "-san" for "-chan" when talking to character B, or stopped using honorifics at all, would probably take an entire paragraph in English, when simply keeping them is a better solution. It's expected that the consumer has a level of familiarity with the cultural context behind the honorific choices. Advertisement: Of course, while keeping most of these definitions in mind, when one is speaking actual Japanese to actual Japanese people and is unsure which honorific to use, it is always best to just ask, and then use what they tell you. Even if he's 6'6" and captain of the soccer team, if he wants you to call him "Dai-chan"...you call him "Dai-chan". See also Japanese Pronouns, Keigo, Korean Honorifics. Honorifics used only as suffixes
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Familial honorificsThe following is the set of honorifics used to address or refer to family members. These are used as a both a term of address as well as a term of reference (i.e. when you are talking about the person in question), though note that there is a specific set of terms used to refer to one's own family members. These can be used standalone or attached to names (except for Otoosan / Okaasan, see below). The "O" at the beginning is called a beautifying prefix, used to honor the addressee, and can be dropped off if the speaker wish so or if the honorific is used as a suffix to names.
Official titles
Obsolete honorifics
Other thingsAs noted above, -dono comes from the word tono, meaning "lord". Several other terms for social rank seem to be used as honorifics as well, most notably -oujo and -hime, both of which mean "princess". "-ojou" or "-ojousama" is regularly used for girls from very well-to-do families. Likewise, which version of a person's name to use will also convey varying degrees of formality; the Japanese generally tend to be on a Last-Name Basis except for family or intimate friends, so addressing a coworker, neighbor or casual acquaintance using their given name instead of their family name in cases where a full name would be too formal would usually be considered quite forward regardless of the honorific attached to it. As with any such distribution things tend to towards the center rather than the extremes; attaching formal honorifics to informal names and vice-versa tends to either connote sarcasm or just sound silly so "Family Name -san" is most likely to be the most acceptable form for most people on most occasions. This provides yet another subtle shading of formality: "Ranma-san" is less formal than "Saotome-san" even though the same honorific is used. It's not uncommon for Japanese people to be on first name basis with peers of their own gender, and last name basis with those of the opposite gender, as being on a first name basis with someone of the opposite gender who is not a relative implies a higher degree of intimacy than an acquaintance, classmate, or coworker would supply. Using no honorific at all (called yobisute) is also an honorific it's a "null honorific", and it means the speaker is addressing the person to whom he is speaking in an intimate and familiar manner usually restricted to family, spouses, or one's closest friends. Usually, this is only done when First-Name Basis permission is granted by the addressee. Using no honorific without such permission is a grave insult; this is a subtlety lost on many foreign visitors, who may offend people with no idea that they're doing so (although nowadays this is generally not the case for most foreigners since most Japanese understand that many languages do not use honorifics, and many foreigners, particularly business travelers, brush up on Japanese etiquette before visiting). Addressing someone in yobisute for the first time frequently marks a significant point of advancement in a Romance Arc or friendship. Somewhat counter-intuitively, you are not supposed to use honorifics on your "in group" when talking to outsiders, such as when mentioning a coworker in a conversation with a business client. Examplesopen/close all folders Anime and Manga
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