Meaning
Japanese has specific ways to address different people depending on their relationship to you. Family members are addressed with titles like おとうさん (father), おかあさん (mother), おにいさん (older brother), and おねえさん (older sister), often with honorifics like さん or ちゃん. In workplaces, people are typically addressed by their position followed by their name, such as 山田しゃちょう (President Yamada) or 田中ぶちょう (Department Head Tanaka). Professionals like teachers, doctors, and lawyers are addressed with 先生 after their name. Customers in service industries are respectfully called お客さん or お客様.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 家庭称呼 | おじいさん（ちゃん）＝爷爷、外公 |
| 家庭称呼 | おばあさん（ちゃん）＝奶奶、外婆 |
| 家庭称呼 | おとうさん＝爸爸 |
| 家庭称呼 | おかあさん＝妈妈 |
| 家庭称呼 | おじさん（ちゃん）＝叔叔、舅舅 |
| 家庭称呼 | おばさん（ちゃん）＝婶婶、阿姨 |
| 家庭称呼 | おにいさん（ちゃん）＝哥哥 |
| 家庭称呼 | おねえさん（ちゃん）＝姐姐 |
| 家庭称呼 | わたし＝我 |
| 职务称呼 | 名字＋しゃちょう（社長）／ぶちょう（部長）／かちょう（科長）／てんちょう（店長） |
| 职业称呼 | 名字＋先生（用于教师、律师、政治家、医生） |
| 客人称呼 | お客さん／お客様 |
Examples
-
山田しゃちょう
Yamada (President) / President Yamada -
田中ぶちょう
Tanaka (Department Head) / Department Head Tanaka -
鈴木かちょう
Suzuki (Section Chief) / Section Chief Suzuki -
ワン先生
Teacher Wan / Professor Wan -
安藤先生
Teacher Ando / Professor Ando -
お客様、こちらの靴はいかがですか。
Customer, how do you like these shoes? / May I help you with these shoes?
Summary
- Family members are addressed with specific titles (おとうさん, おかあさん, etc.) often added with さん or ちゃん
- In workplaces, use job titles with the person's name (name + 社長, 部長, 科長, 店長)
- Professionals like teachers and doctors are addressed with 先生 after their name; customers are called お客さん or お客様