〜さん
さん
suffix
Mr., Ms., Mrs.; (after occupations, shops, animals) polite or friendly suffix
politeperson
1.
Mr., Ms., Mrs., Miss
A polite title suffix attached to names, similar to 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' in English. It is also attached to occupations, shops and companies, and, in talk with or among children, to animals.
〜さん is the most common honorific suffix in Japanese.
Usage
- Attached to family names: 田中さん
- Attached to given names: 太郎さん
- Attached to occupations: 運転手さん (driver)
- Attached to roles: 患者さん (patient), お客さん (customer)
- Attached to shops, meaning the shop or the person who runs it: 八百屋さん (greengrocer), 本屋さん (bookshop), パン屋さん (bakery)
- Attached to another company's name in business talk: 取引先の山田商事さん
- Children's speech, and adults talking to children, for animals and things: 豚さん, お猿さん, お月さん.
Similar words
- 〜様: more formal/respectful
- 〜くん: for males (often younger/subordinate)
- 〜ちゃん: affectionate, for children/close friends
- 〜先生: for teachers, doctors, etc.
Watch out
Never attach 〜さん to your own name. Speaking to someone outside your company or family, drop it from members of your own group too: a receptionist says 田中は席を外しております, not 田中さん.