Honorifics.

Now, I don't know about you... But I used to get really confused when I'd read a Digimon fic where there was an overload of "Taichi-kun!" and "Yamato-san"'s. So, here's a list of the most commonly used honorifics

-san. The most commonly used honorific, equivalent to Mr., Mrs, Miss, etc. An all-purpose honorific, it can be used in any situation where politeness is required.

-sama. One level higher than "-san". Used to refer great respect.

-dono. Comes from the word "tono", meaning "lord". Even higher than "-sama" and confers utmost respect.

-kun. Suffix used at the end of boy's names to express familiarity or endearment. Also sometimes used by men among friends, or when addressing someone younger/of a lower station.

-chan. Used to express endearment, mostly towards girls. Also used for little boys, pets and lovers- childish cuteness.

Bozu. An informal way to refer to a boy- like "kid" in English.

Sempai/Senpai. Title that suggests that the addressee is one's senior in a group or organization. Most often used in a school setting, where underclassmen refer to upperclassmen as "sempai". Also used in the workplace, e.g. where a newer employee addresses an employees who has seniority in the company.

Kohai.The opposite of "sempai".

Sensei. Literally meaning "one who has come before", this title is used for teachers, doctors or masters of any profession or art.

-[blank]. Perhaps the most significant difference between Japanese and English. Lack of an honorific means that the speaker has permission to address the person in a very intimate way. Usually only family, spouses or very close friends have this kind of permission. Knowns as yobisute, itcan be gratifying when someone has earned the intimacy starts to call one by one's name without an honorific. But when that intimacy hasn't been earned, it can be very insulting.


^,^ This list came from a Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLe manga, property of CLAMP.

When you say sensi... do you mean sensei? Sensei is Teacher in Japanese

Haha, TYPO! Thanks for the correction ^,^

No problem!

FINALLY!
I know what Domo means!

This topic = epic win.

You have no idea how much of a major help this is for me! I had asked someone to explain this stuff to me but it just didn't stick. Now I have a reference guide! So thanks!!!

Here's a list of Honorifics used amongst the Adventure characters. I figured it would be helpful to people looking into this topic.

Taichi:
Mimi-chan
Miyako-chan
Taichi never speaks with Ken directly, so we don't know if he would use any honorific with him.
He refers to everyone else with no honorifics.

Yamato:
Hikari-chan
Miyako-chan
Yamato never speaks with Mimi or Ken directly, so we don't know if he would use any honorific with them.
He refers to everyone else with no honorifics.

Sora:
Yamato-kun
Koushiro-kun
Jyou-sempai
Mimi-chan
Takeru-kun
Hikari-chan
Daisuke-kun
Miyako-chan
Iori-kun
Sora never speaks with Ken directly, so we don't know if she would use any honorific with him.
She does not use an honorific when speaking with Taichi.

Koushirou:
Taichi-san
Yamato-san
Sora-san
Jyou-san
Mimi-san
Takeru-kun
Hikari-san
Daisuke-kun
Miyako-kun (my assumption for -kun being used here is due to them both being part of the computer club. -kun can at times to used for females in the office / when part of a group project)
Iori-kun
Ichijouji-kun

Jyou:
Sora-kun
Mimi-kun
Hikari-kun
Jyou never speaks with Miyako directly, so we don't know if he would use any honorific with her.
Jyou refers to everyone else with no honorific.
Jyou referring to all females with -kun boggles the mind. One would think he'd only ever spoken to other boys before Adventure began.

Mimi:
Taichi-san
Sora-san
Koushirou-kun
Jyou-sempai
Takeru-kun
Hikari-chan
Daisuke-kun
Miyako-chan
Mimi never speaks with Yamato, Iori and Ken directly, so we don't know if she would use any honorific with them.

Takeru:
Taichi-san
Sora-san
Koushirou-san
Jyou-san
Mimi-san
Hikari-chan
Daisuke-kun
Miyako-san
Iori-kun
He refers to Ken with Ichijouji-kun.
He refers to Yamato with Oniichan (older brother).

Hikari:
Yamato-san
Sora-san
Koushirou-san
Jyou-san
Mimi-san
Takeru-kun
Daisuke-kun
Miyako-san
Iori-kun
Ichijouji-kun
She refers to Taichi with Oniichan (older brother).

Daisuke:
Yamato-san
Jyou-san
Mimi-san
Hikari-chan
Daisuke variates between Taichi-sempai and Taichi-san. He uses Taichi-sempai when Taichi is actually in earshot, and Taichi-san when he isn't.
He never speaks with Sora directly, so we don't know if he would use any honorific with her.
He refers to everyone else with no honorifics.

Miyako:
Taichi-san
Sora-san
Izumi-sempai
Mimi-san
Hikari-chan
Ken-kun
Miyako never speaks with Yamato, Jyou, and Takeru directly, so we don't know if she would use any honorific with them.
She does not use an honorific when speaking with Daisuke and Iori.

Iori:
Taichi-san
Yamato-san
Koushirou-san
Jyou-san
Takeru-san
Hikari-san
Daisuke-san
Miyako-san
Ichijouji-san
Iori never speaks with Sora and Mimi directly, so we don't know if he would use any honorific with them.

Ken:
Yamato-san
Izumi-san
Hikari-san
Miyako-san
Iori-kun
Ken never speaks with Taichi, Sora, Jyou, Mimi, or Takeru directly, so we don't know if he would use any honorific with them.

Source: Honorifics used in Digimon

Ooooh, thank you people soooooo muuuuuuch!!!! This is gonna help BIG time!!

...I have no idea how I missed that list...

Benign, that is awesome! Really helps with the whole relationship-shebang, I find...

Have a gold star!

What about a gold heart!

I think what Benign really wants is a gold bar. Pure, solid gold.

Onii-chan, please tell me you found this online and you didn't actually compose this by writing this stuff down while you watched.

Of course I found this online. ;p

The link to the website I got it from is embedded at the end of the post under "Source: Honorifics used in Digimon."

And I'll happily take a gold star. (a gold heart works, too)

You and Aana and your hidden links!

Where was Aana's hidden link?

There isn't one... that I'm aware of. I just mean she does that too.

PrincessJaded wrote:

I just mean she does that too.

Doesn't that technically mean then that you're aware of at least one of the links? lol =o

Yeah, but it's not on this topic.


...I actually forget where I put it...

Both lists are extremely helpful, but...

I thought it was "kohai", not "konai." I could be wrong, though...

Oh yeah, I believe I've only ever come across "kohai."

I don't know enough about the subject to know what's correct though.

I'll try to ask a classmate about it, if I don't forget. He's taking Japanese for his foreign languages.

I asked my friend who speaks Japanese today, and she said it was kohai.

So my mind didn't decieve me!

Ah, good to know. Thanks!

*changed*