(くん)

くん
suffix
Mr., Master (familiar)
1. Mr., Master (for males)
An honorific suffix used for boys, younger men, or male subordinates.
太郎(たろう)(くん)(あそ)ぼう。
Taro, let's play.
田中(たなか)(くん)、ちょっと()て。
Tanaka, come here for a moment.
山田(やまだ)(くん)小学校(しょうがっこう)のときからの友達(ともだち)だ。
Yamada has been my friend since elementary school.
2. (for females in workplace)
Sometimes used for female colleagues or subordinates.
佐藤(さとう)(くん)、この資料(しりょう)をコピーしてくれ。
Sato, please copy this document.
部長(ぶちょう)女性(じょせい)社員(しゃいん)にも(くん)をつけて()ぶ。
The department manager also addresses female employees with -kun.
うちの会社(かいしゃ)では男女(だんじょ)()わず(わか)社員(しゃいん)(くん)づけで()上司(じょうし)(おお)い。
At our company, many supervisors address young employees with -kun regardless of gender.

(くん) is an honorific suffix.

USAGE:

  • For boys and young men
  • For male subordinates at work
  • Sometimes for female subordinates
  • Less formal than 〜さん

COMPARISON:

  • 〜さん: polite, gender-neutral
  • (くん): familiar, mainly male
  • 〜ちゃん: affectionate, mainly female/children
  • (さま): very formal/respectful