what does kun mean in anime

by Prof. Lavern Ledner 10 min read
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Kun is a semi-formal title for a man—primarily men younger or the same age as the speaker. Chan (ちゃん) Little... Most frequently used for girls and small children, close friends, or lovers. Occasionally may be used to refer to a boy, but in most situations would be inappropriate.

What is the difference between san, sama, Kun and Chan?

Using “San” expresses one's caring for others. Therefore, it is recommended to use “San” in any type of situations. “Kun(君)” is usually used for boys, especially the younger ones. On the contrary, “Chan” is for girls. But the nuance is quite different.

What is Kun mean after a name?

Meaning of Kun in Japanese After a Name (Honorific Title) When the Japanese word kun (君, くん) is added to a person’s name it turns into a so-called honorific title or honorific suffix . If you look up what it means in English , you will get “ Mr. (junior) “, “ master “, or “ boy “.

What does the Japanese word kun mean?

Kun (君【くん】) is generally used by people of senior status addressing or referring to those of junior status, or it can be used when referring to men in general, male children or male teenagers, or among male friends.

What does Kun, Chan, Sama mean?

Kun is the male form of chan. It’s used between close male friends or women when referring to a close male friend. Some young women have started to use it between themselves but I can’t really comment on that as I haven’t really heard it used often. Sama is reserved for those of a higher station than you or when you want to show great respect.

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What does Kun and Chan mean?

' –Kun (くん), the most commonly used honorific in anime. It is used to address young males. It is also used by superiors to inferiors and male of the same age and status. –Chan (ちゃん), most frequently used for girls and between them, children, close friends, or lovers.

What is senpai and Kun?

Senpai (せんぱい) – refers to people with more experience than oneself. Also used for higher grade classmates. So a junior in high school would call a senior senpai. Kōhai (こうはい) – refers to a person as a junior. So a senpai may attach this to a junior's name.

What does Naruto Kun mean?

Meanwhile, Hinata called Naruto with "kun" as an informal honorific for a boy with the same age, that applies too for kun.

Why do Japanese say kun?

Less polite than "~ san", "~ kun (~君)" is used to address men who are younger or the same age as the speaker. A male might address female inferiors by "~ kun," usually in schools or companies. It can be attached to both surnames and given names.

What do you call your bf in Japanese?

The language is very formal – always referring to someone by their last name plus -san. For example, Mr. Tanaka is “Tanaka-san”. So when it comes to expressing love, affection, and friendship in Japanese, it's usually as simple as calling your significant other by their first name only.

Can you use kun for a girl?

Kun for females is a more respectful honorific than -chan, implying childlike cuteness. Kun is not only used to address females formally; it can also be used for a very close friend or family member.

What is the meaning of Hinata sama?

Translation of "Hinata-sama" in English Lady Hinata. La ringrazio, Hinata-sama.

Why does Hinata call Sasuke kun?

Notably, Hinata used the honorific "kun" when she called out Sasuke's name in the Japanese version, suggesting she saw him as a friend.

What is Sama in Japanese?

Sama さま The use of the word -sama is the most formal, and is very special. This higher version of -san is used in very specific situations towards people who have a high status, such as with customers in the customer service industry, but more commonly when talking about Japanese deities 神様 (kami-sama).

Can you say senpai to a girl?

🧑‍💼 Senpai (先輩、せんぱい) Generally it refers to someone older. As with "Sensei" is used interchangeably by sex, and does not necessarily follows the name. You might find it transcribed as "sempai". Its opposite is "Kohai/kouhai" but it is rarely used when talking to someone.

What means ONII Chan in Japanese?

What does the Japanese word onii chan mean? According to Drexel University, the Japanese language word onii-chan, or “oniichan” means big brother, or older brother in English. This is considered a term of endearment, and would be used by someone who is very close with their older brother.

Do you add SAN to first or last name?

As a rule of thumb, in Japanese business life, the surname name is always followed by the honorific suffix “san” (meaning “dear” or actually “honorable Mr/Ms.”).

What is the relationship between Sempai and Kouhai?

Sempai – Kouhai (upperclassman-lowerclassman) relations are extremely important in Japan, and it is standard to treat your sempai with the utmost respect. A cute example is Ryunosuke Tanaka from Haikyu!!, as he gets super emotional when the first-years finally address him as Tanaka- sempai rather than Tanaka- san.

Why are Japanese honorifics important?

The truth is that Japanese honorifics are the best giveaway to the relationships between characters. Japanese has a very complex system of honorific language that reflects the social hierarchies that are so important in Japanese society.

What is the suffix for "otaku"?

A very polite and general suffix that is often used in formal writing and very often heard on the news. The stereotypical otaku will refer to their otaku-comrades with ~ shi.

What does "sama" mean in Japanese?

A term of extreme respect. For most regular Japanese, this is most commonly used when dealing with customers and clients. In fact, mail is usually addressed to [name] -sama. In anime it often shows that the character is highly respected or in a position of power. It is sometimes used sarcastically too!

What is a kun in anime?

A term of respect that is most commonly used to address young males. If you watch school anime then you may have noticed boys being referred to as ~kun. It isn’t necessarily only used for boys though and is often used by superiors to address their subordinates, both male and female.

What does the suffix "san" mean?

Often seen as a term of endearment , this suffix was originally a baby-talk version of ~san that is now often used to address young girls. Some people use it as a cute way to address their close friends.

What is the Japanese suffix for "san"?

Introduced to many Westerners through ‘The Karate Kid’, ~san is the most common honorific suffix in Japanese. It’s gender-neutral and can be used with people you don’t know or even amongst friends if you aren’t particularly close. It is often added to inanimate objects or animals too! Basically, if in doubt, use ~san!

What does San mean in Japanese?

San is a unisex suffix that can be used for both males as well females. It’s a substitute for “Mrs.”, “Ms.”, or “Mr.”, a formal and informal suffix (subscript) used to address superior as well as equals or people you just met.

What does Chan mean in Japanese?

Chan is a derivative of San used exclusively for females. It can be for children, close friends, family members, lovers, and even animals. We can conclude that it is an informal suffix that is not used to address strangers.

What does Kun mean in Japanese?

Simply put, Kun is the opposite of Chan. It is reserved to address males instead of females. What differs is that it will most probably be used for young boys as older ones might get insulted to be considered cute.

What does Senpai & Kohai mean in Japanese?

Senpai refers to a person, not necessarily older, but a person who has more experience in a specific domain. Although it is mostly used to refer to a senior at school it can be used to address seniors at the workplace or in a sports club. The people who were there before you are your Senpai’s even if they are younger.

What does Sensei mean in Japanese?

A lot of people mistakenly use “Sensei” only for professors or teachers but “Sensei” is also descriptive for doctors and lawyers. Anyone that we look upon as an authority figure or a Master in a specific field. It is used to acknowledge someone that achieved a superior level of mastery and skill in a domain.

What does Fujin mean in Japanese?

Like Chan, Fujin is allocated for women. It’s similar to “Mrs.” and mostly used to refer to someone’s wife. It is a prestigious honorific meant to address women of high status like politicians or celebrities.

What do Dono & Tono mean in Japanese?

I added those honorifics to the mix even if they are not used in the modern age because, frankly, I was very curious about them.

Why do you use "chan" and "san" in Japanese?

"San," "kun," and "chan" are added to the ends of names and occupation titles to convey varying degrees of intimacy and respect in the Japanese language . They are used very often and it is considered impolite if you use the terms incorrectly. For instance, you should not use "kun" when addressing a superior ...

What does "san" mean in Japanese?

San. In Japanese, "~ san (~さん)" is a title of respect added to a name. It can be used with both male and female names, and with either surnames or given names. It can also be attached to the name of occupations and titles. For example:

When to not use "kun"?

For instance, you should not use "kun" when addressing a superior or "chan" when talking to someone older than you. In the tables below, you'll see how and when it is appropriate to use "san," "kun," and "chan.".

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