An introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

306 CHAPTER 6. LANGUAGE PATTERNS

Name suffixes

There are various name suffixes that indicate different kinds of social re-

lations, and using them out of place can have the effect of sounding like

you’re joking around a bit, to simply insulting someone. For this reason,

it’s a good idea to go over the list of common name suffixes, and see what

they do. Also not unimportant is to note that people in Japanese refer to

each other by their family name, suffixed with the appropriate name suffix,

and not by first name until there is a clearly defined friendship.

This is the standard name suffix that is used across Japan to refer to
and call the aĴention of people who you have no particular relationship
to.

An honorific suffix, this name suffix is used when someone is of con-

siderably higher status, used to indicate a master in a master/servant rela-

tion. This suffix is also used when writing someone’s name as recipient on

a leĴer or card, where it can be followed by to indicate that this name is

to be the recipient of the communiqué.

A classical honorific suffix, that is in use today principally for formal

addressing in writing. Like

, can be used on leĴers and cards for

indicating the recipient.

This name suffix is used to indicate that someone is a representative

of a specific house or has a particular lineage, similar to the official English

title ”sir” or ”distinguished gentleman”. Historically this name suffix has

only been used for men, as women did not act as representatives of a house,

and this gender specific use has not changed to date.

Commonly associated with meaning ”teacher”, someone who is re-

ferred to with is not necessarily a teacher by profession. For instance,

a doctor is a , as is a school teacher, a lawyer, or an expert on politics.

When someone is called upon for their knowledge, then in this role they

are addressed with.