Honorific Language in Japan
by Tatu
If one wishes to do their D/s from a Japanese School perspective or what I call in the west in the "Silk" community, incorporating some of this honorific language can be fun and rewarding. Some of the more common titles would include the use of the suffixes: -san "-san" This is probably the most familiar one to the westerner. One might say, hello Tatu-san. Which interpreted would mean "Mr. Tatu". Therefore "-san" is used as a suffix to mean Mr., Mrs., Ms. It may also be used with someones profession or company, like Hello "Kinbaku-san", which would mean literally Hello, "Mr.Bondage". Or hello Mr. Butcher.
Yet it is not used strictly in this sense, "-san is also used of animals
& bugs. -sama "-sama" is used the same, but is used in a more formal manner. It would be used of someone who is of a higher rank than you are. So if I were your employer, you would refer to me as "Tatu-sama". If I we both were employees (same rank), we would use "-san" of each other. Both "-san" and "-sama" would be used with someone with who you are familiar, someone in your circle of associations. "-sama" would be used of customers, anyone you wish to show respect. You would address your letters using the suffix, -sama.
-dono " - dono" Sir or Madam or Ma'am
-kyou A formal title more like "Lord or Lady"
-denka A reverential title, used in the sense of Your Highness and is used of a royal family.
-heika Means "your majesty" and is used of the Japanese Emporer of other Kings and Queens in other countries.
-kun " - kun" is used informally by persons of similar age where a higher senior ranking male refers to the lower junior ranking male. For example if I were your student, you might refer to me as "Tatu-kun". In the business world females also use it, female to female. In family life it is used of a male child. Teachers use it of male students.
-chan " -chan" typically is used by an adult to refer primarily of a female child, but sometimes also of a male child. It is also used by adults who are intimate as a term of affection. Sort of like we in the west might call our intimte partner "baby".
Senpai is used specifically in academic settings by the student referring to the teacher. ko-hai is used by the teacher of the student.
Sensei is used to address Doctors, Teachers, Politicans, any position of authority. It is also used in the sense of anyone who has some mastery of an art. It is used of musicians, poets, any creative artist. It is used of Tea Ceremony Masters as well as martial artists. It is also used sarcastically of someone who has an overblown sense of self importance, or a big ego.
The term shi is a very formal usage to refer to someone you know of ,but have never met. It is used of persons you may have only read about in a publication. It is preferred usage in legal documents or in formal speeh.
So if I were to be the speaker at a gathering where no one knows of me
personally. I might be introduced: "Our speaker tonight is a rope artist
from Florida. Please welcome Tatu-shi. After I had been introduced,
he may drop my name and refer to me only as "shi". Be careful about this word "shi". It can have about 20 different meaning, depending on how it is used. To say I have to shi-shi, means you have to go pee.
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