Nobody’s not sure what exactly the name is called. This is annoying, real annoying.
A person’s name is officially registered in writing―mostly in kanji form, but you can decide its pronunciation almost freely.
Reading the list of her class students, the teacher has hard times in calling their names. It’s not that she’s not educated of course. The names are just difficult―getting more difficult in recent years, because parents tend to give their children unorthodox pronunciation.
Hell of hurigana ふりがな/フリガナ
Japan is the hell of hurigana ふりがな/フリガナ. Hurigana ふりがな/フリガナis hiragana ひらがな or katakana カタカナ put together above, below, or beside the kanji, showing what it is pronounced. You will be requested to write hiragana down almost every time you write your name.
No equivalents for Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Miss?
Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Miss clearly show sex. The Japanese language does not have such words. It has san/sama/shi/dono/chan/kun but they do not show sex, and they are put after the name, not before it. They express politeness, respect, intimacy, or affection. They all can be used for both male and female.
San さん
San さん shows respect but sama 様 (さま) does more. San sometimes shows intimacy as well. San comes after the first name as well as the last.
● 伊藤 (いとう) さんはいますか？ (Ito-san-wa imasuka?)
(On the phone) Is Mr./Ms. Ito home?
● はなさんは今日 (きょう) お休 (やす) みです。(Hana-san-wa kyo oyasumi-desu.)
Hana is absent today.
● お医者 (いしゃ) さんに診 (み) てもらった方がいいですよ。(Oisha-san-ni mite moratta hoo-ga ii-desu-yo.)
You should see a doctor.
Sama 様 (さま)
Sama shows respect. Stronger than san, sama is commonly used in many occasions like in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. when they call their customers. This is also usually used for the address of the letter or email.
● 鈴木様 (すずきさま) のお部屋 (へや) は219号室 (goo-shitsu) になります。(Suzuki-sama-no oheya-wa nihyaku-juu-kyuu goo-shitsu-ni nari-masu.)
Mr./Ms. Suzuki, your room number is 219.
Shi 氏 (し)
You can NOT use shi when you call the person who you speak to. This is always used when you address it to the third person(s). Nevertheless, you can use this in writing anytime. This is used only for the family name.
● 豊田氏は、多大の寄付をして下さりました。(Toyota-shi-wa, tadai-no kihu-o shite kudasari mashita.)
Mr./Ms. Toyota has made a lot of donations.
Dono 殿 (どの)
Dono gives you a more formal impression than sama.
Chan ちゃん
Chan is thought to be derived from san. Chan gives you intimacy and has a lot of usage. Elder persons use chan for younger persons, especially for kids. However, younger ones can usually use chan for their elders when they call them by the relationship; the elders NEVER CAN, except using for babies.
おばあちゃん (obaa-chan): grandma
おじいちゃん (ojii-chan): grandpa
おとうちゃん (otoo-chan): daddy
おかあちゃん (okaa-chan): mummy
おにいちゃん (onii-chan): bro
おねえちゃん (onee-chan): sis
赤 (あか) ちゃん (aka-chan): baby
Kun 君 (くん)
Elder persons use kun for younger persons. This is also used among the same colleagues. When kids use kun, they use it for boys.
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