Using ~さん
The equivalent to Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. is ~さん
USAGE: Right after the name. It is used even with friends. (Even when in English we wouldn't use "Mr.")
- くれいさん kurei san - Mr. Clay
- 山田さん yamada san - Mr. (or Mrs...) Yamada
Other name titles: (used the same way)
- ~さま sama - very polite - reserved for royalty, important people, and customers of stores
- ~ちゃん chan - used for girls and very young boys (kiti-chan = Hello Kitty)
- ~くん kun - used for young boys
- ~先生 sensei - used for teachers [クレイ先生 kurei sensei], doctors, and professionals
For now just use san. As you know from watching all the Karate Kid movies, it is the most common.
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Thanks. I will clarify
Thanks. I will clarify that.
But, my Japanese friends
But, my Japanese friends say.. Tan and chan are used for people your class or younger as a term of affection. Chan is for boys too!