Learn Japanese: Guide to Japanese Grammar

Parts of Speech - Names

Names

     In Japan, family names (surnames/last names) come first and first names come last. 

Example A: お茶子　麗日/おちゃこ　うららか・Ochako Uraraka

Example B: 黒崎　一護/くろさき　いちご・Kurosaki Ichigo

     Although Japanese know English speaker use their first names to introduce themselves, native speakers will introduce themselves using their last name. You should only call a Japanese citizen by their first name if they allow you to. A lot of elders like to her their last name introduced and not their first name. Millennials, however, will allow their first name to be introduced if it's someone they know very well (really close friend or family member).

     However, with children, it's a little different. When talking to children, you can use their first name. You can use the suffix "-chan" at the end of a first name. Although, for younger boys, you can use the suffix "-kun". But this is for fairly young children. When a child reaches an adolescent stage (10-12 years old), it can transition from "-kun" or "-chan" to "-san".

Name Titles

     -san: Similar to the English form of Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss. This suffix should never be used to describe yourself. In conversation, -san should be used as a direct address (directly speaking to someone). Family members will use -san when talking about other family members or close friends followed by that person's first name. In short, do not use -san when addressing yourself but use it when talking to someone directly. 

Example A: 私はジョンスミスです。/　わたしはジョンスミスです。・　"I'm John Smith."

Example B: マリアさんは、きょう学校にいますか。/　マリアさんは、きょうがっこうにいますか。・　"Is Maria at school?"

Politeness & Prefixes

     A prefix is a word, letter, or number placed before another. An example of a prefix used in Japanese is o- (お). This prefix used before nouns adds politeness to it. (It is also used with adjectives and verbs).

Example: 名前は何ですか。/　お名前は何ですか。・　なまえはなんですか。/　おなまえはなんですか。

Translation: "What is your name?" (Casual form) / "What is your name?" (Polite form)

     Another prefix is go- (ご) which is used for words in Chinese origin. 

Example: 本　(ほん)　/　ご本　(ごほん)・Book

Notes About o- & go- Learn How to Prefix

     Although these prefixes can be used by both men and women, the prefixes used above are commonly used by women. Study these o- and go- word examples below.

Example A: 肉 (にく)　/　お肉 (おにく) ・Meat

Example B: 野菜（やさい）/　お野菜　（おやさい）・Vegetables

     Some words are always used with these prefixes. For example:

Example A: お茶（おちゃ）・　Japanese tea

Example B: ご飯（ごはん）・　Rice

     It's better to use these prefixes when you know how to use them. Make sure you know which words these prefixes go with. If you use these prefixes improperly, you might say the wrong thing.

The next chapter will be about compound nouns and noun suffixes.