Honorifics

Honorifics follow a person’s name and signal familiarity and status. Speakers choose them based on their relationship with the addressee.

This page focuses on manga usage. Real-life usage can differ.

さん: The Polite Default

さん is used to address adults, strangers, and acquaintances. It’s added to surnames in formal or distant relationships and to given names among friends.

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Honorifics.
名探偵コナン » Volume 18 » Page 96

A new student joins Conan’s elementary school classroom. The teacher introduces her.

先生(せんせい):
今日(きょう)からみんなと勉強(べんきょう)する(こと)になった、灰原(はいばら) (あい)さんです!」
“This is Ai Haibara. It came to be that she'll be studying with us starting today.”
「みんな仲良(なかよ)くしてあげてね!」
“Everyone be friendly with her!”
View Full Example

さん also attaches to occupations and businesses, as in 店員(てんいん)さん for a shop clerk, 運転手(うんてんしゅ)さん for a driver, or 本屋(ほんや)さん for a bookstore.

Manga panel from ふらいんぐうぃっち showing example of Honorifics.
ふらいんぐうぃっち » Volume 1 » Page 21

Having just settled in at her relative’s house where she will be living, Makoto has a meal with her cousins.

真琴(まこと):
「そーだ。(ちか)くに雑貨屋(ざっかや)さん(なに)かありますかね?」
“Oh yeah, is there a general store or something nearby?”
(けい):
「ん? 雑貨屋(ざっかや)?」
“Hm? A general store?”
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In Kansai speech, はん can take the place of さん. A name followed by はん marks the character’s dialect as well as the relationship.

ちゃん: Affectionate and Cute

ちゃん shows affection and familiarity. It’s used for children, friends, family members such as お(かあ)ちゃん, and pets. It can follow the name of an adult or a male character when the speaker feels close to him. It’s never used for strangers, so ちゃん between characters signals an established closeness.

Manga panel from カードキャプターさくら showing example of Honorifics.
カードキャプターさくら » Volume 1 » Page 131

After piano class, Naoko hurries home only to see a ghostly figure appear from within a lake at the park. She recalls the events to her friends at school.

(さくら):
「な…奈緒子(なおこ)ちゃん なにかを()()(ちが)っちゃったってことは…… (()とか電柱(でんちゅう)とか看板(かんばん)とか)」
“Na... Naoko, could it be that you ended up seeing something wrong...... (like a tree or a utility pole sign or something)?”
「……ないよね」
“......I guess not.”
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A young character, typically a girl, may refer to herself in the third person with ちゃん attached to her own name. This comes across as childlike.

君: Familiar, Toward Males

(くん) is typically used for boys and young men of equal or lower status.

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Honorifics.
名探偵コナン » Volume 1 » Page 65

Professor Agasa convinces Ran to take Conan in to stay with her and her father.

(らん):
「ここよわたしの(いえ)… そして今日(きょう)からコナン(くん)(いえ)…」
“It's here. My home... And starting today, your home...”
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(くん) isn’t limited to males. A male teacher may address female students with (くん), and a character may use it for a close friend of any gender. When used toward a girl or woman, it reads as more respectful than ちゃん. A female character may also use (くん) for a male character she has known a long time or feels attached to.

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Honorifics.
名探偵コナン » Volume 18 » Page 150

The Detective Boys get caught up in a counterfeit money case, taking their new classmate, Ai Haibara, along. After the case is resolved, Conan walks Haibara home, only to discover she’s staying with his neighbor.

灰原(はいばら):
「ただいまーーー…」
“I'm home...”
阿笠(あがさ):
「ああ、お(かえ)(あい)(くん)!」
“Oh, welcome back, Ai.”
View Full Example

The hiragana spelling くん is more common than 君. You’ll also see クン.

Manga panel from アオハライド showing example of Honorifics.
アオハライド » Volume 1 » Page 88

Futaba is falsely accused of stealing by a lunch lady, but Tanaka steps in and vindicates her. Soon after, Futaba thanks Tanaka, saying that when she was accused, she was so angry she didn’t know what to do.

双葉(ふたば):
「でも田中(たなか)くん(おこ)ってくれたから()()んじゃった」
“But since you scolded her for me, I felt better.”
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様: Elevated Respect

In speech, (さま) (or さま) shows strong deference or reverence. Speakers who use it sarcastically or for themselves, as in 俺様(おれさま), project arrogance.

Manga panel from ポケットモンスタースペシャル showing example of Honorifics.
ポケットモンスタースペシャル » Volume 3 » Page 68

After infiltrating a Team Rocket hideout, Red, Green, and Blue take on the various Gym Leaders inside, including Machisu, Natsume, and Kyou. A couple of Team Rocket grunts discuss the fallout.

したっぱ 1:
マチス(さま)だけでなくキョウ(さま)(たお)された。 おまけに…ビルに(ほのお)をはなったようだ!」
“Not only Master Machisu, but Master Kyou was defeated too. On top of that... it looks like they set fire to the building!”
したっぱ 2:
(はや)くあのガキどもを(さが)さなければ! …が、トレーナーバッジのエネルギー増幅器(ぞうふくき)保管(ほかん)場所(ばしょ)(はな)れるわけには…。」
“We have to find those brats quickly! ...But we cannot leave the place where the Trainer Badge energy amplifier is being stored...”
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Businesses use (さま) to show more respect than さん, as in お客様(きゃくさま).

Manga panel from ARIA The MASTERPIECE showing example of Honorifics.
ARIA The MASTERPIECE » Volume 1 » Page 213

Akatsuki asks Akari for a gondola ride to his destination. Along the way, he asks whether he’ll make his deadline. Akari suggests Alicia should take over, but Akatsuki says he’s Akari’s customer (and paying the cheaper fare). Realizing her responsibility, Akari turns the gondola around so she can use her high-speed backward rowing. Alicia apologizes to Akatsuki for the turnaround.

アリシア:
(いま)からお客様(きゃくさま)視界(しかい)(さえぎ)()(かた)をさせてもらいます」
“From now on, she'll be using a rowing technique that blocks your view.”
(あかつき):
「むぅ?」
“Mm?”
View Full Example

It’s also used for deities, as in 神様(かみさま).

Manga panel from ARIA The MASTERPIECE showing example of Honorifics.
ARIA The MASTERPIECE » Volume 2 » Page 129

Alicia and Akari visit an island that’s modeled after part of Japan back on Earth. There, an elderly local woman tells the two of the fox spirits that visit the human world there. Akari is excited at the prospect of meeting one, but the old woman gives her a warning: on rare occasion, a fox will take a person back home with them.

おばあさん:
(かみ)さま世界(せかい)人間(にんげん)世界(せかい)(ちが)うやさかい」
“The god world and the human world are different.”
()れて()かれたらあかん」
“Therefore, it is bad to follow along.”
View Full Example

先生: Honorific Title for Experts

先生(せんせい) is used for teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, and other authority figures, as well as for accomplished creators such as novelists and manga artists. The title acknowledges the person’s profession or mastery.

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Honorifics.
名探偵コナン » Volume 11 » Page 10

In a snow-covered mountain villa, a room full of suspects listen as Detective Mouri explains how their host was murdered. The accused notes she has a receipt showing she was at the convenience store at the bottom of the mountain when the murder took place.

中原(なかはら):
「それにまだ金澤(かなざわ)先生(せんせい)のアリバイもあやふやよ!!」
“Moreover, Mr. Kanazawa's alibi is also vague!”
(わたし)だけを犯人(はんにん)(あつか)いしないでよ!!」
“Don't treat only me as the suspect!”
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先生 can replace a name.

Manga panel from 魔法騎士レイアース showing example of Honorifics.
魔法騎士レイアース » Volume 1 » Page 47

Fuu finds herself spirited away to another world, along with two other girls. A wizard appears before them, saying they cannot return home until they accomplish a specific goal.

(ふう):
(こま)りましたわ。 わたし 先生(せんせい)提出(ていしゅつ)するレポート作成(さくせい)(のこ)ってますのに」
“Oh dear. I've still got to write that report to hand in to the teacher...”
(うみ):
「もう (もど)れないならレポートの心配(しんぱい)なんてしなくていいんじゃないの?」
“If we can't go back anyway, isn't there no point worrying about the report?”
View Full Example

先輩: Honorific Title for Seniors

先輩(せんぱい) is used for seniors at the same school or workplace as the speaker.

Manga panel from ああっ女神さまっ showing example of Honorifics.
ああっ女神さまっ » Volume 2 » Page 75

Kei’ichi is excited to spend four days at the beach with his university automobile club and Belldandy. His mood changes when he hears Sayoko call out to him.

螢一(けいいち):
田宮(たみや)先輩(せんぱい)まさか美術部(びじゅつぶ)合同(ごうどう)でやるんじゃないでしょうね」
“Tamiya, don't tell me we're doing this with the art club!”
田宮(たみや):
「ん……ああ。自動車部(じどうしゃぶ)題材(だいざい)にしたいっていうから…… それに(おんな)()がいた(ほう)(うれ)しい…」
“It's because they said they wanted to use the automobile club as a subject... Additionally, I'm happier having girls here.”
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It may also be written as せんぱい or センパイ, without kanji.

Manga panel from くノ一ツバキの胸の内 showing example of Honorifics.
くノ一ツバキの胸の内 » Volume 1 » Page 151

During a free day from training, Touwata and Mizubashou approach Tsubaki to request a favor. She would like Tsubaki to challenge Benisumomo to a one-on-one fight.

トウワタ:
「そのですね… ベニセンパイ才能(さいのう)があるのにそれにかまけて、ぜんっぜん努力(どりょく)しないんです。」
“Well, you see... Beni-senpai has talent, but she takes it for granted and doesn't put in any effort at all.”
「いっつも一人(ひとり)昼寝(ひるね)するってどっか()って。」
“She always go off somewhere to take a nap alone.”
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先輩(せんぱい) can stand alone and replace a name.

Manga panel from それでも歩は寄せてくる showing example of Honorifics.
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 5 » Page 101

As they start a shogi game after school, Ayumu hears Urushi’s stomach growl. She pretends there wasn’t a sound, but Ayumu realizes she’s hiding that she’s hungry. If he can avoid embarrassing her, Ayumu has the solution in his school bag.

(あゆむ):
「オレのおにぎりを… センパイ()べてほしい…!!」
“I want her to eat my rice ball.”
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後輩(こうはい) names the junior member of the pair. Unlike 先輩(せんぱい), it functions as a relationship noun rather than an honorific attached to a person’s name.

呼び捨て: Dropping Honorifics

()() means calling someone by their bare name, without an honorific. Family members, close friends, and couples use it to show intimacy and trust. When characters switch from さん or (くん) to ()()て, the change can mark a new stage in their relationship.

Manga panel from からかい上手の(元)高木さん showing example of Honorifics.
からかい上手の(元)高木さん » Volume 13 » Page 44

Yukari stops by the preschool where Mina works, just as Takagi is there picking up her daughter. Yukari compares her life with theirs.

ユカリ:
高木(たかぎ)ちゃんは成績(せいせき)よくて しっかりしてたし、」
“Takagi-chan got good grades and had it together.”
ミナ料理(りょうり)得意(とくい)だったりするじゃない。」
“And Mina's good at cooking, right?”
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Without that closeness, a bare name can sound rude.

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Honorifics.
名探偵コナン » Volume 4 » Page 94

Conan needs to investigate a bomb set to go off on the train, but being a child restricts his ability to move around and gather information. He decides he needs to reveal his true self to Ran, but when he addresses her as simply “Ran”, she corrects him to add “ねえちゃん” to her name.

(らん):
「ダメよ。年上(としうえ)(ひと)()()てにしちゃー。」
“That's no good. You shouldn't call older people by their first name alone.”
View Full Example

Further Reading

Related Vocabulary