さん

JLPT:N1
Frequency:
1

an honorific suffix attached to a person's name or title (Mr., Mrs., Ms., -san); a general polite form of address.

SuffixHonorific or Respectful (Sonkeigo) LanguageFamiliar Language

Examples

田中さんは今日休みです。

Mr. Tanaka is off today.

山田さんに電話してください。

Please call Mr. Yamada.

「田中さん、こちらへどうぞ。」

"Mr. Tanaka, this way please."

2

a politeness marker used after a noun (and sometimes a na-adjective) to show politeness or respect; commonly attaches to kinship terms or titles (e.g. 息子さん, お客さん).

SuffixPolite (Teineigo) Language

Examples

息子さんは大学生ですか?

Is your son a university student?

お客さん、順番にお待ちください。

Customers, please wait in order.

お年寄りさんには席を譲ってください。

Please give up your seat to elderly people.

Word Relationships

Synonyms