Words that Change Depending on Who you are Talking to

Nihongo Spirit | 話す相手によって変わる言葉

Words that Change Depending on Who you are Talking to

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.

日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
no
in
単語たんご
tanngo
words
ya
and
フレーズふれーず
fure-zu
phrases
no
of
かずは、
kazu ha,
the number
英語えいご
eigo
in English
より
yori
than
はるかに
haruka ni
much
おお
ooi
is larger
to
that
われます。
iware masu.
it is said
英語えいご
eigo
English
場合ばあい
no baai,
in
はな相手あいて
hanashi aite ga
the person you are talking to
大人おとなでも、
otona demo,
an adult
どもでも、
kodomo demo,
a child
友達ともだちでも、
tomodachi demo,
or a friend
だれであろうと
dare de arou to
whether they are
相手あいてのことを
aite no koto wo
to refer to [the person]
youゆー
“yu-”
the word you
表現ひょうげんします
to hyougenn shi masu
is used
が、
ga,
but
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
では
deha
in
相手あいて
aite
the person we are talking to
ni
on
より
yori
depending
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn wo
(different) expressions
使つかけます。
tsukai wake masu.
we use
youゆー」は
“yu-” ha
the word “you”
一般的いっぱんてき
ippann’teki ni
generally
「あなた」
“anata”
anata
to
as
やくされます
yakusaremasu
is translated
が、
ga,
but
実際じっさい
jissai no
actual
日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinn no
Japanese
生活せいかつ
seikatsu
life
で、
de,
in
「あなた」は
“anata” ha
anata
あまり
amari
very often
使つかわれません。
tsukaware masenn.
is not used
おおくの
ooku no
many
ひと
hito ha
people
佐藤さとうさん」
“satou sann”
Sato-san
由衣ゆいさん」
“yui sann”
or Yui-san
のように、
no you ni,
as in
相手あいて
aite
the person they are talking to
no
of
名字みょうじ
myouji
the last name
ya
or
名前なまえ
namae
first [name]
ni
to
「さん」を
“sann” wo
san
けてあらわします。
tsukete ii arawashi masu.
add
しかし、
shikashi,
however
同僚どうりょう
douryou
colleagues
ya
and
友達ともだち
tomodachi
friends
など
nado
such as
したしい
shitashii
close
相手あいて
aite
partners
partners
and
後輩こうはい
kouhai,
juniors
年下としした
kouhai,
younger
ひと
hito
people
には、
niha,
for
佐藤さとうくん」
“satou kunn”
Sato-kun
翔太しょうたくん」
“shouta kunn”
Shota-kun
のように
no you ni
like
「くん」を
“kunn” wo
kun
け、
tsuke,
we use and
ちいさな
chiisana
small
ども
kodomo
children
には
niha
for
「ちゃん」を
“chann” wo
chan
けてぶことが
tsukete yobu koto ga
we call them
おおいです。
ooi desu.
often
また、
mata,
also
佐藤さとう
“satou”
Sato
翔太しょうた
“shouta”
(or) Shota
のように、
no you ni,
such as
名字みょうじ
myouji
their last name
ya
or
名前なまえ
namae
first [name]
だけ
dake
alone
de
by
ぶこともあります。
yobu koto mo ari masu.
you may call them
ただし、
tadashi,
however
相手あいて
aite ga
the other person
女性じょせい
josei
(is) a woman
場合ばあいは、
no baai ha,
if
「くん」
“kunn”
kun
でなく
de naku
instead of
「さん」を
“sann” wo
san
けて
tsukete yobu
use
ひと
hito ga
people
ほとんどです。
hotonndo desu.
most
上司じょうし
joushi
the boss
には、
niha,
to them
年齢ねんれい
nennrei,
age
性別せいべつ
seibetsu
(or) gender (of)
ni
of
かかわらず
kakawara zu
regardless
部長ぶちょう
“buchou”
buchou
課長かちょう
“kachou”
(or) kachou
のように
no you ni
such as
肩書かたが
katagaki
katagaki
de
by
ぶのが
yobu no ga
to refer
一般的いっぱんてき
ippann’teki
common
です。
desu.
it is
また、
mata,
also
名字みょうじ
myouji
their family names
ni
after
肩書かたがきを
katagaki wo
their titles
つけて
tsukete
by adding
佐藤さとう部長ぶちょう
“satou buchou”
Sato, General Manager
佐藤さとう課長かちょう
“satou kachou”
(or) Sato, Manager
のようにぶこともあります。
no you ni yobu koto mo ari masu.
they may be called
顧客こきゃくたいしては、
kokyaku ni taishite ha,
a customer
na
name
wo
by
yobu
addressing
場合ばあい
baai ha
when
佐藤さとうさま
“satou sama”
Sato-sama
のように
no you ni
as in
名字みょうじ
as in
the surname
ni
to
さま」を
ni
sama
けます。
けます
add
商店しょうてん
add
(in) stores
ya
and
レストランれすとらん
resutorann
restaurants
など
nado
such as
接客業せっきゃくぎょう
sekkiyaku’gyou
the hospitality industry
では
deha
in
お「客様おきゃくさま
“okyakusama”
the term “okyaku-sama"
います。
to ii masu.
is used
このほかにも、
kono hoka nimo,
in addition to this
目下めした相手あいて
meshita no aite
a subordinate
たいして
ni taishite
for
使つかわれる
tsukawareru
used
「おまえ」
“omae”
omae
や、
ya,
or
相手あいて
aite
someone
wo
to
ののしって
nonoshitte
in a derogatory manner
yobu
referring
ときの
yobu
when
「きさま」
“kisama”
kisama
など、
nado,
such as
状況じょうきょう
joukyou
he situation
ya
and
関係性かんけいせい
kannkei’sei
relationship
ni
on
よって
yotte
depending
さまざまな
samazama na
many
かた
yobi’kata ga
other ways to refer to someone
あります。
ari masu.
there are

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