Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
さん (san) Japanese meaning: Mr | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 さん Mr./Ms. ~ (attaching さん to a person's name)
Has Mr. Tanaka already arrived?
お 客きゃく さん customer (polite form)
This customer is a regular.
お 医い 者しゃ さん doctor (polite form)
I had a doctor examine me.
Related words· 9 ちゃん is an affectionate, informal suffix for children, close friends, or pets, whereas さん is neutral and respectful for general use.
君 is a casual suffix mainly used for male peers or juniors, less formal than さん, which works for anyone regardless of gender or status.
さん is the everyday Japanese honorific used for both men and women, while ミスター is a Western-style title reserved for men in formal or business contexts.
さん is the everyday honorific suffix used in conversation, while 氏 is a more formal, written suffix common in news and reports.
Show 5 more さん is the standard, nationwide honorific suffix for names, while どん is its casual Kyushu-dialect equivalent.
The suffix ご in words like 親御さん adds a base level of respect to the noun, while さん is the general polite name suffix that is then added on top of it.
さん is the standard Japanese honorific suffix for names, while はん is its Kansai dialect equivalent, used in casual, familiar speech.
殿 is a formal written suffix for official documents and letters, whereas さん is the everyday spoken and written honorific used casually among people.
Politeness 様 is more formal and reverent than さん, used for customers, deities, or in formal writing, while さん is the everyday polite suffix.
さん is the neutral, universally polite address suffix, while 君 is more casual and typically used for males or juniors, making さん the safer default in formal or mixed-status situations.
さん is the everyday polite title used after someone's name, while 嬢 is a formal, old-fashioned counterpart used specifically for unmarried young women.
Don't confuse with 三 is the number three and shares the same sound さん, but it is a numeral, not the honorific suffix さん attached to names.
サン (the loanword for 'sun') is pronounced identically to さん, the common honorific title attached to names (like Mr./Ms.), but the two are unrelated words.
Etymology Derived from 様 (さま), a highly respectful suffix. The pronunciation shortened to さん over time, becoming the standard polite suffix in modern Japanese.
女じょ 史し
N1
さん is a casual, all-purpose polite suffix for anyone, whereas 女史 is a formal, journalistic title reserved for notable women.
plain
N5
さん is the neutral, polite suffix used for adults and formal contexts, while ちゃん is its informal, affectionate counterpart used mainly for children, close friends, and family.
