History UsefulNotes / JapaneseHonorifics

* The many different honorifics used in ''AiYoriAoshi'' are an important part of characterization. For instance, each member of Kaoru's UnwantedHarem addresses him differently. [[YamatoNadeshiko Aoi]] says "Kaoru-sama"; formal [[HaremNanny Miyabi]] says "Kaoru-dono" (rendered in English as "Sir Kaoru"); easygoing American [[BottleFairy Tina]] says "Kaoru"; younger student [[{{Dojikko}} Taeko]] says "Hanabishi-sempai"; and rich girl [[TheOjou Mayu]] says "Hanabishi-sama". In fact, the respectful honorifics that Aoi and Miyabi use should really be a problem for their cover story -- clearly Kaoru is more than just a tenant to them.

* In ''RedSteel'', the player character is often referred to as "Scott-san", and Tony Tanaka refers to Sato as "Sato-sama".

* As expected in a series revolving around the concept that words are spells, in ''Loveless'' honorifics are so important that the English translation of the manga simply decides to keep all of them.

* As expected in a series revolving around the concept that words are spells, in ''Loveless'' honorifics are so important that the English translation of the manga simply decides to keep all of them. To start off, after expecting Ritsuka to know him, Soubi addresses Ritsuka as just 'Ritsuka' upon meeting him. Ritsuka in turn starts immediately addressing him as simply 'Soubi' without any honorifics.

** In rare cases, ''-sama'' can also be used sarcastically to indicate extreme ''dis''respect. The pejorative [[JapanesePronouns second-person pronoun]] ''kisama'' is written with kanji that mean something like "honored sir," but today the real meaning of the term is more along the lines of "you bastard." In the military parlance, though, it's still got to keep its old respectful sense, which is an endless source of jokes between the civilians. Men who want to express over-the-top arrogance can attach ''-sama'' to the macho and aggressive first person pronoun ''ore'' and refer to themselves as ''ore-sama'', something like "my magnificent self."

** When Ritsu is about to give Megumi a gift[[hottip:*:a picture heavily implied to be of Mio, who promptly eats it]] for bringing study guides, she calls her "-dono".

** Gendo never uses honorifics. Ever.
*** Actually, earlier, he does call Professor Fuyutsuki "Fuyutsuki-sensei"

* The Hitaachin twins often attach "-dono/tono" to [[WhitePrince Tamaki's]] name, teasing his status as "King" of the {{Host Club}}.[[/folder]]

* The placeholder item in ''{{Pokemon}} Gold and Silver'' is called "Teru-Sama", which means the rather nonsensical "Lord Sunshine". However, this may simply be a misspelling of "Teru-Tama" ("Sunshine Ball"), which makes more sense because it is treated by the game as the GS Ball.

Some honorifics can also be employed as stand-alone words.

* In ''GGundam'', Domon used to refer to Master Asia as Shishou since he was his mentor and martial arts teacher, but stopped doing so after Asia's FaceHeelTurn. Since Domon has ''very'' rough speech patterns (he uses ''ore'' and ''omae'' to refer to himself and others, and almost never uses honorifics on people unless they're highly-ranked), he calls Master Asia by full name from then on, which is seen as Doon losing '''all''' of his respect for Asia. [[spoiler: When Domon calls him ''shishou'' again, it's when the old man is actually ''dying'', and Asia himself is very surprised at that fact. [[TearJerker "After all I've done to you... do you still respect me and call me 'master'?]]"]])
** Similarly, Domon referred to his brother Kyouji as "Oniisan", and reverted to call him by name too due to hating him after his FaceHeelTurn. [[spoiler: After learning the truth of his involvement from Kyoji's clone Schwarz Bruder, he refers to Kyouji again as "Niisan". An when he has to MercyKill both Kyouji and Schwarz, he breaks down crying and screams "NIIIISAAAAAAAAAN!"]].

* In ''GGundam'', Domon used to refer to Master Asia as Shishou since he was his mentor and martial arts teacher, but stopped doing so after Asia's FaceHeelTurn. Sicne Domon has ''very'' rough speech patterns (he uses ''ore'' and ''omae'' to refer to himself and others, and almost never uses honorifics on people unless they're highly-ranked), he calls Master Asia by full name from then on, which is seen as Doon losing '''all''' of his respect for Asia. [[spoiler: When Domon calls him ''shishou'' again, it's when the old man is actually ''dying'', and Asia himself is very surprised at that fact. [[TearJerker "After all I've done to you... do you still respect me and call me 'master'?]]"]])

* In ''KamenRiderFourze'', protagonist Gentaro refers to all his friends with ''yobitsue'', partly to reflect his image as a ''[[JapaneseDelinquents yanki]]'', partly because he's all about ThePowerOfFriendship, and maybe partly due to the copious American influence on the show. He even does it with people he ''wants'' to befriend, as seen in episode 8 where he calls [[JerkJock Shun Daimonji]] just "Shun", in spite of the fact that Daimonji is actively antagonizing him. In the previous episode, he does this with the detention teacher and is forced to study while doing a handstand as punishment.

* In ''KamenRiderFourze'', protagonist Gentaro refers to all his friends with ''yobitsue'', partly to reflect his image as a ''[[JapaneseDelinquents yanki]]'', partly because he's all about ThePowerOfFriendship, and maybe partly due to the copious American influence on the show. He even does it with people he ''wants'' to befriend, as seen in episode 8 where he calls [[JerkJock Shun Daimonji]] just "Shun", in spite of the fact that Daimonji is actively antagonizing him. In the previous episode, he does this with the detention teacher and is forced to study while doing a handstand as punishment.[[/folder]]
* In one of the {{Buffy The Vampire Slayer}} novels, Giles gets "Watcher-San" and "Giles-Sensei".

* In one of the {{Buffy The Vampire Slayer}} novels, Giles gets "Watcher-San" and "Giles-Sensei".

:''-bozu'': One level below ''-kun'' on the formality ladder. It's an affectionate masculine diminutive, how one might address a particularly young niece or nephew. Roughly equivalent to addressing someone with a nickname like "squirt" or in a friendly tone calling them "twerp", ''or'' to express mild irritation/annoyance.

** Ichigo also has a tendency to refer to both Toshiro and Byakuya by their given names instead of using honorifics when addressing them, annoying them both. ("It's Captain Hitsugaya!")

** Soi Fong refers to Yoruichi as "Yoruichi-sama".

* During GundamSEED AcePilot Mwu La Flaga addresses newbie Kira Yamato as "Bozu" in the Japanese dub.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

* The Hitaachin twins often attach "-dono/tono" to [[WhitePrince Tamaki's]] name, teasing his status as "King" of the {{Host Club}}.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* In ''YouOnlyLiveTwice'', Tanaka addresses 007 as 'Bond-san'.

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]

* In ''KamenRiderFourze'', protagonist Gentaro refers to all his friends with ''yobitsue'', partly to reflect his image as a ''[[JapaneseDelinquents yanki]]'', partly because he's all about ThePowerOfFriendship, and maybe partly due to the copious American influence on the show. He even does it with people he ''wants'' to befriend, as seen in episode 8 where he calls [[JerkJock Shun Daimonji]] just "Shun", in spite of the fact that Daimonji is actively antagonizing him. In the previous episode, he does this with the detention teacher and is forced to study while doing a handstand as punishment.

[[AC:VideoGames]]

* In ShiningForce, Nova usually address Max as "Max-dono".

[[AC:WebOriginal]]
* In the WhateleyUniverse, Generator (deceased Japanese mother and trying to regain her lost culture) uses these: Chaka-''sempai'' (her martial arts tutor), ''onee-san'' and ''onee-sama'' for her roommate Billie who she treats like a big sister, ...

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]

* Another Western example: Nick from ''SkinHorse'' appears to have [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/skinhorse/series.php?view=archive&chapter=38967#151893 started]] calling Unity "zombie-chan".

[[AC:Others]]
* ''Roleplay/{{Duel Academy R2}}'' players uses Japanese Honorifics when appropriate.

:''-dono'': Originally "lord," in the feudal sense, once denoting a higher level of respect than ''-sama''. However, while ''-dono'' denotes high status on the part of the person being addressed, it does not imply lower status on the part of the speaker, unlike ''-sama''. It thus serves as a face-saving way for high-ranking ''JidaiGeki'' characters to address others of high rank. Today, it's considered slightly less respectful than ''-sama'' due to the lack of self-humbling. However, it's rather archaic to use at all these days; in anime it's sometimes used as an anachronism to indicate the speaker's age (Cologne in RanmaOneHalf, Washu in TenchiMuyo, etc). The only place it's still more or less widely used is the military, cf. "kisama". It can also be used as a pejorative; listen to many a BigBad refer to those worthless humans as "ningen-dono."

** In rare cases, ''-sama'' can also be used sarcastically to indicate extreme ''dis''respect. The pejorative [[JapanesePronouns second-person pronoun]] ''kisama'' is written with kanji that mean something like "honored sir," but today the real meaning of the term is more along the lines of "you bastard." Men who want to express over-the-top arrogance can attach ''-sama'' to the macho and aggressive first person pronoun ''ore'' and refer to themselves as ''ore-sama'', something like "my magnificent self."

:''-dono'': Originally "lord," in the feudal sense, once denoting a higher level of respect than ''-sama''. However, while ''-dono'' denotes high status on the part of the person being addressed, it does not imply lower status on the part of the speaker, unlike ''-sama''. It thus serves as a face-saving way for high-ranking ''JidaiGeki'' characters to address others of high rank. Today, it's considered slightly less respectful than ''-sama'' due to the lack of self-humbling. However, it's rather archaic to use at all these days; in anime it's sometimes used as an anachronism to indicate the speaker's age (Cologne in RanmaOneHalf, Washu in TenchiMuyo, etc). It can also be used as a pejorative; listen to many a BigBad refer to those worthless humans as "ningen-dono."

:''-sensei'': Literally means "one who has come before". Usually heard in English referring to martial arts masters. Applied to doctors, teachers and masters of any profession or art. It is also standard for professional writers who are classed as teachers. In recent years this has become an all-purpose suck-up word, and is now more often used sarcastically or ironically than as a genuinely respectful term. This has brought complaints of DudeWheresMyRespect from real masters and artists.

:''-hakase'': Used when addressing an academic whose expertise is VERY high. Equivalent to addressing someone as "Doctor" but technically it's actually reserved for even higher ranks more on par with "''Professor''"

:''-niisan/-neesan'': Literally refers to one's older brother or sister, respectively, but can also be used to refer to a relative within your generation that is older than you (i.e. an older cousin) ''or'' a slightly older friend that you consider to be ''like'' a brother or sister, similar to ''-senpai''. To directly address your brother or sister, add ''O-'' to the beginning (it denotes respect). Siblings trying to be cute will sometimes refer to their older counterparts as ''Oniichan'' or ''Oneechan''.

* ''DuelAcademyR2'' players uses Japanese Honorifics when appropriate.