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San

Definition

San is a Japanese honorific title used to address someone with respect. It is equivalent to the English titles of Mr., Mrs., or Miss.

Analogy

Think of "San" as a formal bow that you give to someone as a sign of respect, just like how you would address someone with a respectful title in English.

Related terms

Sensei: A term used to refer to a teacher or an expert in a particular field.

Senpai: An upperclassman or someone more experienced than you.

Chan: A suffix used when addressing young children, close friends, or pets.

"San" appears in:



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.