| When journeying to a foreign country it is important | | | | The Japanese do use first names. However, this is |
| that you abide by the culture of that country. What | | | | only between close friends and other family |
| might be considered all right in one country, such as | | | | members. Name suffixes such as -chan and -kun are |
| addressing someone you do not know by their first | | | | used with close acquaintances or friends in place of |
| name, would be considered a great insult in another. | | | | the -san suffix. Should you use these less formal |
| In Japan, it is particularly important to use the proper | | | | suffixes? As a foreigner you should not, unless you |
| form of address when speaking to someone. The | | | | have developed a great deal of skill in the Japanese |
| following are some forms of addressing an individual | | | | language. The exception would be if you are told to |
| while you're in Japan. | | | | use the less formal form of address by the individual |
| You can never go wrong by using the suffix -san. | | | | themselves. |
| This is added to the end of a persons name as a sign | | | | The suffix -chan is widely used among women |
| of respect. The people of Japan are extremely polite, | | | | friends, family members and less so but sometimes |
| especially when meeting or speaking with someone | | | | among men. Grandmothers use -chan to call to their |
| they are not acquainted with. The word -san is also | | | | grandsons. The suffix -kun is most commonly used |
| used as an addressing suffix added to an individual's | | | | for children and particular boys, usually while they are |
| family name. | | | | still in school. You can almost never go wrong in |
| This is equivalent to adding the adding Mr., Ms or Mrs. | | | | Japan by being respectful to everyone. One honorific |
| in front of a person's first or last name as in the | | | | form of addressing a person is -sama, which is used |
| English language. Most people in America would be | | | | by people of service or lower status to a person of |
| fine with other people calling you by your first name | | | | higher status or who is being served. This is one |
| without adding any honorifics, or using just your first | | | | form of address that shows respect. |
| name with an honorific. In Japan that is not the case. | | | | Another form of respect is the honorific Sensei. This |
| The suffix -san just has to be there. It is considered | | | | honorific is used towards someone who is considered |
| very impolite or vulgar to not use it, and is an insult | | | | accomplished or particularly deserving of respect, like |
| to not do so. It is also considered impolite to add to | | | | a doctor, lawyer, artist, teacher, employer, or political |
| your own name or when speaking of yourself to | | | | figure. Sensei can be used as a suffix or it can stand |
| another. | | | | alone as a title. |