Japanese Honorifics: San, Kun, Chan and Sama Explained

Japanese adds honorific suffixes to names to signal respect and relationship. Using them right makes you sound natural and polite.

The main honorifics

• 〜さん (san) — the safe, polite default for almost anyone (Mr./Ms.).
• 〜さま (sama) — very respectful, used for customers and in formal writing.
• 〜くん (kun) — for younger males, juniors, or close male friends.
• 〜ちゃん (chan) — affectionate, for children, close friends, or cute nicknames.
• 〜先生 (sensei) — for teachers, doctors and other experts.

Important rules

• Never add an honorific to your own name.
• Use さん until you're invited to be more casual.
• Use family/first names less than in English — surnames + さん are standard.

Default to さん and you'll almost always be polite and correct.