It is said that the number of words and phrases in Japanese is much larger than in English.
In English, the word “you” is used to refer to the person you are talking to, whether they are an adult, a child, or a friend, but in Japanese, we use different expressions depending on the person we are talking to.
The word “you” is generally translated as “anata,” but in actual Japanese life, “anata” is not used very often.
Many people add “san” to the first or last name of the person they are talking to, as in “Sato-san,” or “Yui-san.”
However, for close partners such as colleagues and friends, juniors, and younger people, we often call them “kun” like “Sato-kun” and “Shota-kun,” and for small children we use “chan.”
You may also call them by their first or last name alone, such as “Sato” or “Shota.”
However, if the other person is a woman, most people use “san” instead of “kun.”
Regardless of age or gender of the boss, it is common to refer to them by his or her title, such as “buchou (General Manager)” or “kachou (Manager).”
They may also be called “Sato, General Manager” or “Sato, Manager” by adding their titles after their family names.
When addressing a customer by name, add “sama” to the surname, as in “Sato-sama.” In the hospitality industry, such as in stores and restaurants, the term “okyaku-sama (customer)” is used.
In addition to this, there are many other ways to refer to someone depending on the situation and relationship, such as “omae” used for a subordinate, or “kisama” when referring to someone in a derogatory manner.
言われます。
iware masu.
it is said
話し相手が
hanashi aite ga
the person you are talking to
大人でも、
otona demo,
an adult
子どもでも、
kodomo demo,
a child
友達でも、
tomodachi demo,
or a friend
誰であろうと
dare de arou to
whether they are
相手のことを
aite no koto wo
to refer to [the person]
と表現します
to hyougenn shi masu
is used
相手
aite
the person we are talking to
表現を
hyougenn wo
(different) expressions
使い分けます。
tsukai wake masu.
we use
「you」は
“yu-” ha
the word “you”
一般的に
ippann’teki ni
generally
訳されます
yakusaremasu
is translated
日本人の
nihonnjinn no
Japanese
使われません。
tsukaware masenn.
is not used
「佐藤さん」
“satou sann”
Sato-san
「由衣さん」
“yui sann”
or Yui-san
相手
aite
the person they are talking to
名字
myouji
the last name
付けて言い表します。
tsukete ii arawashi masu.
add
同僚
douryou
colleagues
「佐藤くん」
“satou kunn”
Sato-kun
「翔太くん」
“shouta kunn”
Shota-kun
付けて呼ぶことが
tsukete yobu koto ga
we call them
「翔太」
“shouta”
(or) Shota
名字
myouji
their last name
呼ぶこともあります。
yobu koto mo ari masu.
you may call them
相手が
aite ga
the other person
ほとんどです。
hotonndo desu.
most
性別
seibetsu
(or) gender (of)
かかわらず
kakawara zu
regardless
「課長」
“kachou”
(or) kachou
一般的
ippann’teki
common
名字
myouji
their family names
肩書きを
katagaki wo
their titles
「佐藤部長」
“satou buchou”
Sato, General Manager
「佐藤課長」
“satou kachou”
(or) Sato, Manager
のように呼ぶこともあります。
no you ni yobu koto mo ari masu.
they may be called
顧客に対しては、
kokyaku ni taishite ha,
a customer
「佐藤様」
“satou sama”
Sato-sama
レストラン
resutorann
restaurants
接客業
sekkiyaku’gyou
the hospitality industry
お「客様」
“okyakusama”
the term “okyaku-sama"
と言います。
to ii masu.
is used
この他にも、
kono hoka nimo,
in addition to this
目下の相手
meshita no aite
a subordinate
ののしって
nonoshitte
in a derogatory manner
状況
joukyou
he situation
関係性
kannkei’sei
relationship
呼び方が
yobi’kata ga
other ways to refer to someone