さん
-san
In Japanese, the English title "ms" is expressed using the honorific suffix さん (-san).
The suffix さん is the most common way to address someone politely in Japanese. It is used for both men and women.
Meaning: title (noun)
Which one should you use?
While さん is the standard polite suffix, 様 is a much more formal version used for customers or people of much higher status. The term お嬢さん refers to a young lady or miss.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an honorific suffix, さん is attached to the end of a person's name, not the beginning.
How do you pronounce it?
-san
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use さん for themselves, but in Japanese, you must never use an honorific when referring to yourself.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, you can attach さん to the names of animals or even inanimate objects to personify them or show affection, a practice called 'anthropomorphism'.
- There is a specific social faux pas called 'yobisute', which is the act of calling someone by their name without adding さん or another suffix.
- While さん is usually for names, it can be attached to occupations like 運転手さん for 'driver' or 店員さん for 'shop assistant' to be polite.
Examples in context
- 田中さん、電話ですよ。Ms. Tanaka, you are wanted on the phone.This sentence shows how to address someone using さん.Tatoeba #124887 by small_snow, translation #12606818 by urro
- ブラウンさんをお願いします。May I talk to Ms. Brown?This sentence shows how to request to speak to someone using さん.Tatoeba #5025 by bunbuku, translation #1619 by CN
- 田中さんに電話をつないでください。Please put me through to Ms Tanaka.This sentence shows how to ask to be put through to someone using さん.Tatoeba #124884 by small_snow, translation #10714256 by sundown
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking in the office.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんは、佐藤さんと話しましたか？Youta-san wa, Sato-san to hanashimashita ka?Youta, did you speak with Ms. Sato?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、さっき佐藤さんと話しました。Hai, sakki Sato-san to hanashimashita.Yes, I spoke with Ms. Sato a little while ago.
- 美咲 Misaki彼女は、とても親切な人ですね。Kanojo wa, totemo shinsetsu na hito desu ne.She is a very kind person, isn't she?
- 陽太 Yotaそうですね。佐藤さんはいつも優しいです。Sou desu ne. Sato-san wa itsumo yasashii desu.That's true. Ms. Sato is always kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry さん, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
