Japanese Names Chan
Titles and honorifics in japanese san kun chan senpai the use of honorifics in japanese of which san is probably the best known is an inevitable part of the language but also quite a confusing area for many of you.
Japanese names chan. Chan in japanese chan ちゃん is an endearing female suffix. It s a friendly and casual version of japanese honorific title. Combine the first and last name. If you re a little bit familiar with japanese culture you already know that people rarely use another person s first name and therefore japanese honorifics are tied to last names.
For example arnold schwarzenegger gained the. In japan and many asian countries though the last name has quite a bit of importance. Typically you don t see this in western countries. 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.
The change from san to chan is a kind of baby talk in japanese where sh sounds are turned into ch sounds such as chitchai for chiisai small. Using chan with a superior s name is considered rude and condescending. Chan ちゃん this suffix shows the speaker finds a person endearing. Chan is also used for adults who are considered to be kawaii cute or loveable.
Chan has a sense of cuteness and acquaintance so it is also used towards pets and lovers. See also about japanese names. Mostly we put chan after the women s first name and it s very useful because you can use it to people you just met for the first time. San sama kun and chan in japan most of the time people call each other by their family name rather than their given names.
Note that depending on the japanese characters used these names can have many other meanings besides those listed here. You can use it after your friends name. Generally it is used for babies teenager girls young children and grandparents. They are used very often and it is considered impolite if you use the terms incorrectly.
It is most commonly used for children but is also widely used among female family members and close friends. Using japanese honorific titles e g. Japanese names are used in japan and in japanese communities throughout the world. Many japanese people particularly younger ones have taken to merging their given name and surname together to create a nickname.
Chan ちゃん is a form of san used to refer to children and female family members close friends and lovers.