A Short Lesson in Japanese Honorifics

A Short Lesson in Japanese Honorifics; by Hiro (Additions by Zorak)
Topic Started: Apr 3 2008, 05:30 AM (367 Views)
Hiro_Tsukasa	Apr 3 2008, 05:30 AM Post #1
Sorcerer Siezing Sorcerer Posts: 2,614 Group: Admins Member #1 Joined: Mar 21, 2008	[SIZE=7]A Short Lesson in Japanese Honorifics[/SIZE] By: Hiro Tsukasa (With aid of Gundam SEED manga Vol. 1) Ninja'd Additions by Zorak Introduction: After recently helping Muto with a question concerning honorifics, I decided to make a guide about this all important but underrated aspect of Japanese Culture. Time and again it pisses me off when a Manga or Anime is dubbed/translated and they leave out the honorifics (moreso manga than anime.) Now, allow Hiro to enlighten you! Politeness has always been a critical facet of Japanese culture. Ever since the Fuedal Era, where Japan was a highly stratified society, use of honorifics--which can be defined as polite speech that indicates relationship or status--has played an essential role in Japanese language.When addressing someone in Japanese, a honorific usually takes the form of a suffix attached to one's name (Ex: "Hiro-san"), as a title at the end of one's name (Ex: "Triyun-sensei"), or in place of the name itself (Ex: "Sensei"). Honorifics can be expressions of respect or endearment. In many manga and anime, honorifics give us slight insight into the nature of the relationships between various characters. The Six Most Common Honorific Suffixes -san: This is the most common honorific and is the equivalent to Mr., Miss, Ms. and Mrs. It is the all-purpose honorific and can be used in any situation where politeness is required. -sama: This is one level higher than -san. It is used to confer GREAT respect. -dono: This comes from the word tono, which means lord. It is an even higher level than -sama and confers the utmost respect. It is an antiquated version of -sama and isn't heard much anymore -kun/-chan: This suffix is used at the end of a boy's/girl's (respectively) name to express familiarity or endearment. It also sometimes used by adults among friends or when addressing someone younger or of a lower station. ~ -chan is the informal, intimate, diminutive equivalent of -san, used primarily by children to refer to friends and family members but also applied to siblings, to close friends and lovers, and to children by adults. It is also used in variation sometimes as -chin or -tan ~ -kun is often used by superiors to refer to inferiors (usually male, though sometimes female in business situations). Used also by males of roughly the same age and status in addressing each other. -sensei: Refers to a teacher or doctor, a figure of respect. -sempai: Usually refers to upperclassmen or the president of a school club. A role model or leader of sorts. -kouhai: Usually refers to underclassmen or people of a lesser grade at a school. Added Notes: watashi-I (formal for males, normal for females) boku-I (normal for males) atashi-I (normal for females) anata-you (singular/normal)



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