Author's note: As of late, I have had several emails correcting my usage of
"chan". So, by way of explanation, I have scraped up a list of the
honorific terms/suffixes added to names by the Japanese. If you have any
complaints about my use, please, please refer to this list before mailing
me. Sorry that this takes up so much space, but there wasn't a website that
I could find that could compile all of this together, so I couldn't just
post a link.
- Honorifics The Japanese use several honorific suffixes. Which one is used in a given situation depends on the relationship between the conversing parties, and the formality of the occasion. They most commonly used honorifics are:
(1) Chan, i.e. Nariko-chan. A very informal and affectionate term, most often used between close friends and family members. This honorific is mostly used to address girls - boys typically get the -kun suffix. A boy might be called -chan in a playfully mocking way by his friends, or by a girl who thinks he's kawaii.
This honorific can be linguistically shorthanded to mean "little," i.e. Little Nariko.
(2) Kun, i.e. Shen-kun. Functionally the male equivalent of -chan. It's a slightly more formal, and doesn't seem to ever be used to refer to girls.
(3) San, i.e. Nariko-san or Shen-san. The formal unisex method of address, -san is the nominal honorific for daily conversational use. It can be linguistically shorthanded to mean Mister, Missus, or Miss.
(4) Sama, i.e. Hara-sama. A very formal and respectful unisex honorific. Sama would be used if talking to the boss or other social superior. God is called Kami-sama, or "Great Spirit."
(5) Sensei, i.e. Imahori-sensei. Already widely known in the west, this honorific is used specifically to address a teacher. This can be literal, as a grade school math teacher, or figurative, as in an artist one admires.
(explanations care of: )
--More info--
sama - Used for lords, gods, and the exalted in general. Naturally, it shows a great deal of respect, although you certainly don't want to use it to your bosses, for example, as it's too honorary for that. You may often see this used by creepy fangirlz on their favorite visual-kei J-rockstars.
dono - An archaic term that is not used very much in modern times. It is formal and respectful, but typically used on officials (i.e. Kogorou speaking to the police inspector Megure). Read or watch something set centuries ago and this will pop up quite a bit. Much more of a "male" thing than just san.
senpai - A term for superiors within one's own "class", if you will, but it exudes a sense of camaraderie as well. You will probably see this used on upperclassmen in school the majority of the time, but you can also see it in workplace used on upon people in the same position with more seniority. Calling someone your senpai generally shows that you acknowledge their seniority and look up to them as well, and in a way seems more informal than san. Often romanized as "sempai".
(explanation care of )
--last tidbit of info-
-rin - An honorific ending for names that is mostly indicates cuteness
(explanation care of )
WHEW!
If that wasn't a LONNGGG author's note, I don't know what is. Bleh. No more of this. I'm betting that you aren't actually here to read my ranting about Japanese culture and grammar. Onto the story!
It took Shinji a moment to realize that Kaworu was simply inviting him to listen to him play - Kaworu spoke so oddly.
".Aa." Nodding his assent, Shinji sat down promptly in the grass, leaning his cello against one of the trees that bordered the clearing. Kaworu, taking his cue, picked up the violin that he had set aside, and began to play.
*O friends, not these notes!
Rather let us take up something more pleasant, and more joyful.
It was always a wonder to Shinji that a song could exist - one written for joy, but written, it seemed to him, out of sorrow. The song in itself was a contradiction. There seemed no lasting happiness in it, yet it was a tribute to joy.
-A song is good.- Again, a thought not quite his own entered Shinji, and this time, he noticed something - the thought was in words. Normally, when thinking, Shinji simply. thought. He didn't use words. He used feelings and notions and ideas - why bother translating them into speech when no one is there to hear what's in your head.? Unless he was planning out a presentation or a speech, there was no reason to think in words.
And there was also no reason for the words to be in Kaworu's voice.
That in itself was disturbing - the voice in which the words was spoken was Kaworu's. Shinji was certain of it. the calm, patient voice he had heard moments before wasn't something easily confused with other sounds. This realization led to yet another: he had known before meeting him the manner in which Kaworu would speak.
There was a sudden silence as the song finished, and Kaworu set down his violin, peering almost anxiously at his unnervingly quiet companion.
"Shinji?" No Shin-chan, or bunny, or anything of the sort - Kaworu simply said his name. "Shinji? Shinji."
By the third time Kaworu had repeated his name, Shinji had withdrawn from his thoughts, returning to his usual, outwardly-focused self.
"Nani~o?" If he heard the faintly whining, nervous edge to Shinji's response, Kaworu didn't show it.
"Nothing. I was just wondering - where were you going with your instrument before you stopped to listen?" Kaworu spoke slowly and softly, with the same thoughtful nature as he always had.
//As he always had? What do I know about what he has 'always' done?!// Shinji felt a faint flicker of panic. Voices. Voices he shouldn't have heard, belonging to people he shouldn't have already have known.
".Just home." Shinji replied vaguely, "But it's okay. No one's there."
Kaworu tilted his head to one side, as if considering asking Shinji about it, but didn't press the matter.
"Sou, ka? Then. would you like to come to my apartment?" Kaworu offered, smiling.
Apartment? Kaworu had only known him for moments, and already he was offering to take Shinji to his apartment? Somehow, in lieu of recent events, Shinji wasn't as concerned about this as he should have been. Something about the white-haired teen was compelling - he made Shinji want to follow him. To his apartment, to anywhere - to wherever Kaworu was willing to take him.
//.I need to get out more.// Shinji decided.
*Endnotes: Full lyrics/analysis of "Ode to Joy" can be found at :
and
randomness: yes, I do realize that I have shinji's thoughts in word format. I'm not sure how else to write them. He doesn't hear them as words in his head, however; it's simply impulses, or things like that (save when he's hearing Kaworu talking in his head. but hey, that's HIS issue, not mine : p)
- Honorifics The Japanese use several honorific suffixes. Which one is used in a given situation depends on the relationship between the conversing parties, and the formality of the occasion. They most commonly used honorifics are:
(1) Chan, i.e. Nariko-chan. A very informal and affectionate term, most often used between close friends and family members. This honorific is mostly used to address girls - boys typically get the -kun suffix. A boy might be called -chan in a playfully mocking way by his friends, or by a girl who thinks he's kawaii.
This honorific can be linguistically shorthanded to mean "little," i.e. Little Nariko.
(2) Kun, i.e. Shen-kun. Functionally the male equivalent of -chan. It's a slightly more formal, and doesn't seem to ever be used to refer to girls.
(3) San, i.e. Nariko-san or Shen-san. The formal unisex method of address, -san is the nominal honorific for daily conversational use. It can be linguistically shorthanded to mean Mister, Missus, or Miss.
(4) Sama, i.e. Hara-sama. A very formal and respectful unisex honorific. Sama would be used if talking to the boss or other social superior. God is called Kami-sama, or "Great Spirit."
(5) Sensei, i.e. Imahori-sensei. Already widely known in the west, this honorific is used specifically to address a teacher. This can be literal, as a grade school math teacher, or figurative, as in an artist one admires.
(explanations care of: )
--More info--
sama - Used for lords, gods, and the exalted in general. Naturally, it shows a great deal of respect, although you certainly don't want to use it to your bosses, for example, as it's too honorary for that. You may often see this used by creepy fangirlz on their favorite visual-kei J-rockstars.
dono - An archaic term that is not used very much in modern times. It is formal and respectful, but typically used on officials (i.e. Kogorou speaking to the police inspector Megure). Read or watch something set centuries ago and this will pop up quite a bit. Much more of a "male" thing than just san.
senpai - A term for superiors within one's own "class", if you will, but it exudes a sense of camaraderie as well. You will probably see this used on upperclassmen in school the majority of the time, but you can also see it in workplace used on upon people in the same position with more seniority. Calling someone your senpai generally shows that you acknowledge their seniority and look up to them as well, and in a way seems more informal than san. Often romanized as "sempai".
(explanation care of )
--last tidbit of info-
-rin - An honorific ending for names that is mostly indicates cuteness
(explanation care of )
WHEW!
If that wasn't a LONNGGG author's note, I don't know what is. Bleh. No more of this. I'm betting that you aren't actually here to read my ranting about Japanese culture and grammar. Onto the story!
It took Shinji a moment to realize that Kaworu was simply inviting him to listen to him play - Kaworu spoke so oddly.
".Aa." Nodding his assent, Shinji sat down promptly in the grass, leaning his cello against one of the trees that bordered the clearing. Kaworu, taking his cue, picked up the violin that he had set aside, and began to play.
*O friends, not these notes!
Rather let us take up something more pleasant, and more joyful.
It was always a wonder to Shinji that a song could exist - one written for joy, but written, it seemed to him, out of sorrow. The song in itself was a contradiction. There seemed no lasting happiness in it, yet it was a tribute to joy.
-A song is good.- Again, a thought not quite his own entered Shinji, and this time, he noticed something - the thought was in words. Normally, when thinking, Shinji simply. thought. He didn't use words. He used feelings and notions and ideas - why bother translating them into speech when no one is there to hear what's in your head.? Unless he was planning out a presentation or a speech, there was no reason to think in words.
And there was also no reason for the words to be in Kaworu's voice.
That in itself was disturbing - the voice in which the words was spoken was Kaworu's. Shinji was certain of it. the calm, patient voice he had heard moments before wasn't something easily confused with other sounds. This realization led to yet another: he had known before meeting him the manner in which Kaworu would speak.
There was a sudden silence as the song finished, and Kaworu set down his violin, peering almost anxiously at his unnervingly quiet companion.
"Shinji?" No Shin-chan, or bunny, or anything of the sort - Kaworu simply said his name. "Shinji? Shinji."
By the third time Kaworu had repeated his name, Shinji had withdrawn from his thoughts, returning to his usual, outwardly-focused self.
"Nani~o?" If he heard the faintly whining, nervous edge to Shinji's response, Kaworu didn't show it.
"Nothing. I was just wondering - where were you going with your instrument before you stopped to listen?" Kaworu spoke slowly and softly, with the same thoughtful nature as he always had.
//As he always had? What do I know about what he has 'always' done?!// Shinji felt a faint flicker of panic. Voices. Voices he shouldn't have heard, belonging to people he shouldn't have already have known.
".Just home." Shinji replied vaguely, "But it's okay. No one's there."
Kaworu tilted his head to one side, as if considering asking Shinji about it, but didn't press the matter.
"Sou, ka? Then. would you like to come to my apartment?" Kaworu offered, smiling.
Apartment? Kaworu had only known him for moments, and already he was offering to take Shinji to his apartment? Somehow, in lieu of recent events, Shinji wasn't as concerned about this as he should have been. Something about the white-haired teen was compelling - he made Shinji want to follow him. To his apartment, to anywhere - to wherever Kaworu was willing to take him.
//.I need to get out more.// Shinji decided.
*Endnotes: Full lyrics/analysis of "Ode to Joy" can be found at :
and
randomness: yes, I do realize that I have shinji's thoughts in word format. I'm not sure how else to write them. He doesn't hear them as words in his head, however; it's simply impulses, or things like that (save when he's hearing Kaworu talking in his head. but hey, that's HIS issue, not mine : p)