# Japanese honorifics guide

When to use さん, 様, くん, ちゃん, 先生 and more at work and in daily life.

## Name suffixes and when to use them

When to use さ⁠ん, 様, く⁠ん, ち⁠ゃ⁠ん and 先⁠生, and the ones never to use about yourself.

| Suffix | Reading | When to use it | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| さん | san | The safe default for almost anyone: colleagues, neighbours, shop staff. | 田中さん |
| 様 | sama | Customers and clients, and names on letters and emails. Very polite. | 山田様 |
| 先生 | sensei | Teachers, doctors, lawyers and other professionals. | 佐藤先生 |
| くん | kun | Boys, or a junior male colleague from a senior. Don't use it upwards. | 健太くん |
| ちゃん | chan | Small children, close friends and family. Too casual for work. | さくらちゃん |
| 先輩 | senpai | Someone senior to you at work or school. | 鈴木先輩 |
| 御中 | onchū | A company or department (not a person) on an envelope or email. | 株式会社ABC 御中 |
| 各位 | kakui | 'Everyone' at the top of a group email or notice. | 関係者各位 |

*8 suffixes - with examples*

## Honorific questions

### Can I call my boss by name + さん?

Yes. Family name + さん is normal. Many workplaces also use the title alone, such as 部長 or 課長.

### Do I add さん to my own name?

Never. Suffixes show respect to others, so you don't use them for yourself.

### What should I write on an email to a company?

Company or department name + 御中. For a named person, use their name + 様.