Honorifics: Prefix and Suffix Etiquette

You probably know ~San (Mr./Ms.). But Japanese has a whole world of suffixes that define social distance.

• ~Sama: High level of respect (for customers or deities).
• ~Kun: Often for boys or subordinates.
• ~Chan: For children, pets, or close female friends.

The ‘O’ Prefix

Adding O- or Go- to the beginning of a word makes it more polite (e.g. O-cha for tea, O-tearai for bathroom).

Conclusion

Using the right honorific shows that you understand the social landscape of Japan.