Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

Word 2407 of 4449

Save Sign in to track

さん

Mr; Mrs; Ms (polite suffix after a name, title or occupation)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 田中さんはもう帰りました。

    たなかさんはもうかえりました。

    Mr Tanaka has already gone home.

  2. おつりはいらないよ、運転士さん。

    おつりはいらないよ、うんてんしさん。

    Keep the change, driver.

  3. 駅前の八百屋さんで野菜を買ってきた。

    えきまえのやおやさんでやさいをかってきた。

    I bought vegetables at the greengrocer's by the station.

Common patterns

お医者さん
doctor (friendly form)
お巡りさん
police officer (friendly form)
ご苦労さん
thanks for your trouble (casual)

Memory tip

Never attach it to your own name, or to your own family or colleagues when speaking to outsiders. It goes on shops and occupations too (八百屋さん, 本屋さん), which softens the word rather than honouring a person. 様 is politer, 君 and ちゃん more familiar.

Quick check

1 / 1Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does さん mean?