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What does Chan and Kun etc mean in Japanese?

What do 'kun', 'san' and 'chan' mean?

  • I read manga and sometimes these 3 words may appear, usually after someones name eg "shinji-kun" but what do they mean? What would be the English equivalent to them?

  • Answer:

    "Kun" is typically used to refer to male teenagers, or between friends (usually male friends to other males, but also female friends to males). "San" is a neutral polite way to address people, much like the English "Mr." or "Ms." "Chan" is a term of endearment, and is used to refer to little children, or between very close friends (girls) or lovers.

Mikuri at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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-kun is a familiar term, used mainly by male friends to refer to each other. "Bro" is probably the closest you can get to it in English, but with more respect. -San is an honorific, used to refer to those who are more important than yourself. "Sir" is the closest you can get to it in English. -Chan is a diminutive, used to refer to people you are close to but consider beneath you. Like a mom talking to her children, or between friends who are really informal and kinda teasing. "Lil" is sort of an approximate for it. -sama is a stronger honorific, used mainly for royalty or gods. "Lord" is a good approximiation.

mugenhunt

Thats Japanese. the san, kun and chan are polite words you put on the ends of names.. its just very polite to say it.. san is on the end of girls names, kun for boys names and chan for little kids.. e.g.. kim-san sharni-san bob-kun rachel-chan if you know what i mean... there isnt an english equivalant i dont think. but to summarise.. its just something polite you say after saying someones name..

Amy

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