What are Japanese honorifics (titles)?
(As i am still learning, most of this information is from astronerdboy.com)
I have translated it from TM!R order to Naruto order.
Japanese honorifics, like English ones, are used to confer honor on a person or to establish a social order. Unlike English honorifics (Mr., Mrs., Miss), Japanese honorifics are gender-neutral and attached to a persons family name OR given name. Further, the Japanese have a wider range of honorifics for any number of situations. In Japan, the lack of use of an honorific is seen as extremely rude or intimate (husband and wife).
-sama -- This honorific denotes the greatest level of respect or submission on the part of the user. Sarutobi is referred to as "Sarutobi-sama" by most people because he was very powerful person in Konoha
-dono -- This is a rarely used honorific in modern-day Japan. It has its roots in the warring states days of Japan and apparently used to be the highest honorific bestowed on a person (usually the samurai in charge of a village or town). This honorific has two uses today.
*submissive -- The use of -dono in the submissive sometimes sees the term translated to "Master." Yukinojo, Mihoshi's nutty computer system, refers to Mihoshi as "Mihoshi-dono." That's because Mihoshi is his owner, thus making it proper for him to address her as such.
*non-submissive -- This form of -dono is used when a person of great importance addresses someone else of great importance (in one way or another). It allows the addresser to show great respect to the addressee without elevating them above the addresser. Washu and Seto-sama are the chief users of this form of -dono. Thus when Washu addresses Tenchi as "Tenchi-dono," she recognizes him as an important and powerful person, and thus an equal of sorts.
-san -- This is the generic honorific in Japan. It is commonly equated to the English Mr./Mrs./Miss honorific and is used for any situation where politeness is required (which are many situations). This is reflected in Naruto with Sakura addressing Rock Lee as "Lee-san"
-chan -- This is one of the more intimate honorifics in Japanese society as it has a more feminine take. It is primarily used for young children, girls, and pets. Girls will often address each other with the -chan honorific. It can be used to address males, but that is generally not appreciated. -chan does not mean "little."
-kun -- This honorific is less formal than -san and has a more masculine take. Of all honorifics, this one is the one most likely to be ignored by translators because they can't come up with an appropriate translation for it. There are two uses for this honorific.
*informal -- This form of -kun is used primarily to address boys or young men. Thus you see girls in school almost always refer to their male counter-parts with the -kun honorific. Males also can address each other with the -kun honorific, but it depends on the situation and relationship of the speakers.
*more formal -- This form of -kun is primarily used in the work environment when a boss addresses his or her underlings, or by a teacher when addressing students. As such, the honorific is used to address both males AND females.
Sakura almost always reffers to Sasuke as "Sasuke-kun"
-senpai -- Also spelled as "sempai" based on how it sounds to our English-speaking ears, this honorific is used by one to address those of more senior rank than themselves. It is mainly used in the school environment (through college), but can also be used in the work environment. That's why when Ino was thinking of becomeing a student of Tsunade, Sakura announced that She would be Ino's senpai, that made Ino very upset. The term can also be used as a stand-alone title, and that would be fine too. Here on DN, a member that was here before you, you could call Senpai.
-kouhai -- This is the opposite of senpai which is used by the senior ranking person to address the lesser ranking person. However, this honorific is not required and often the senpai will simply address the lesser by name with an honorific, depending on how they view the person they are addressing.
-sensei -- This honorific is a title to denote someone as master in his or her field. It can be used as an honorific or as a stand-alone title. ALL teachers/educators are addressed with this honorific. Others who are addressed with the sensei title/honorific are lawyers, doctors (all), authors (including manga-ka), or other such masters. Naruto creator Kishimoto Masashi (name Japanese style) is given the sensei honorific because he's an author (and for some, because of his wonderful creations). Sensei can also be used alone as it means "teacher"
no honorific -- The lack of the use of an honorific either indicates rudeness or disrespect on the part of the addresser, or it indicates that the addresser feels a sense of intimacy to the addressee. The degree of intimacy is reflected on whether the addresser uses the addressee's family name or given name.
-nee -- This is the short term for "older sister." While this form of the honorific isn't that common, it is generally used by those addressing an older girl who is not the addresser's actual sister, but for whom they look up to as a sister. Here are other forms of the term:
*(o)neechan -- This is the least formal form to address an older sister or sister-type. This can be used as an honorific or as a stand-alone term. The "o" prefix honorific adds more respect to the honorific. "Neechan" is also used sometimes to address a waitress. Kids will often address an older girl (through their 20's) as "oneechan" even if that girl is a stranger. Naruto addressed Isarabi as "neechan" because she saved his life. (Land of the Sea arc-Episodes 169-173)
*(o)neesan -- Same as above, only more formal. Generally, one sees this used for actual family members.
*(o)neesama -- Same as above, but it is the most formal use for "older sister." Sometimes this form is used by younger girls in lieu of "senpai" to address an older girl they admire or to address a mentor.
-nii -- This is the short term for "older brother." While this form of the honorific isn't that common, it is generally used by those addressing an older boy who is not the addresser's actual brother, but for whom they look up to as a brother. Here are other forms of the term:
*(o)niichan -- This is the least formal form to address an older brother or brother-type. This can be used as an honorific or as a stand-alone term. The "o" prefix honorific adds more respect to the honorific. This term is used a lot by younger girls to address older males up through their 20's.
*(o)niisan -- Same as above, only more formal. Generally, one sees this used for actual family members.
*(o)niisama -- Same as above, but it is the most formal use for "older brother."
Note: There are other terms for older brother and sister which are not noted here.
other honorifics -- There are a few other honorifics of interest to bring to your attention. There are actually many more than I list here.
*(o)jou(chan/san/sama) -- This is a title/honorific used to address a girl or young woman of someone important and rich, but who's NOT a member of the royalty. "Ojouchan" can be used to address a young girl, but is often seen used in a rude way by thugs to a young woman they've eyed. "Ojousama" is used by the household staff of the young woman's family to address her.
* -hime -- This is a title/honorific for princess. Tsunade has been addressed with this honorific because she is the granddaughter of the Shodaime Hokage, or First Fire Shadow. To add more respect to the title, the sama honorific is attached to it ("himesama").
*-han -- This is an honorific of the same level as -san, but seems to only be used by those speaking with a Kyoto dialect.
*-tan -- A cutesy form of the -chan honorific. I had thought it to be a cutesy form of -san but have been informed this is not correct.
*-chii -- A cutesy, highly informal honorific. Ironically, this will often show up in translations, but not denoted as an honorific by using the dash. Instead, it will often be appended to the end of someone's name, often as "tchi."
*-chama -- A cutesy, childish form of the -sama honorific.
*-chin -- Another cutesy, childish form of the -chan honorific.
*-tama -- Another cutesy, childish form of the -sama honorific.
If you see something here that you know for a fact is wrong, PM or E-mail me, Or if you have another one not mentioned. :) |
Locked: Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:41 am by Tigra
