殿
tono
tono is the Japanese word for a historical title used to address a feudal lord or a person of high rank.
In modern business correspondence, the kanji 殿 is sometimes used as a formal suffix after a name in official documents, though it may feel somewhat archaic or impersonal compared to sama.
How do you pronounce it?
tono
Did you know?
- In modern Japanese offices, using 殿 in a letter to a superior can be seen as a mistake because it implies a downward or equal social relationship.
- The kanji for tono does not actually describe a person, but rather the grand physical architecture of a palace or a large hall where an audience would be held.
- The pronunciation shifts from tono to dono when it is attached to the end of another word, a linguistic phenomenon known as rendaku.
Examples in context
- 殿の命令は絶対です。Tono no meirei wa zettai desu.The lord's command is absolute.
Example conversation
A couple is watching a historical drama on television.
- 健太 Kentaこの物語の殿は、強い人だね。Kono monogatari no tono wa, tsuyoi hito da ne.The lord in this story is a strong person, isn't he?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とてもかっこいいです。Hai, totemo kakkoii desu.Yes, he is very cool.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵は、こういう歴史が好きかな？Himari wa, kouiu rekishi ga suki kana?I wonder if you like this kind of history, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんが選ぶなら、面白いですよ。Kenta-san ga erabu nara, omoshiroi desu yo.If you choose it, Kenta, it is interesting.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 殿, CC BY-SA 4.0.
