In Japanese, appending ‘san’ to a person’s name is a way to express politeness, akin to saying Mr. or Ms. in English. This form of address is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and is indicative of the respect ingrained within the language. It’s comparable to honorifics in other Asian languages, such as ‘ssi(씨)’ or ‘nim(님)’ in Korean and ‘xiānsheng(先生）’ in Chinese, which are used to show respect and politeness.
As a Japanese national working for an American company in South Korea, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that ‘san’ is widely recognized even outside of Japan. It’s a piece of linguistic etiquette that has crossed borders, demonstrating the influence of Japanese culture globally.
To illustrate, let’s take a common Japanese name: ‘Ohtani’. When addressing this individual respectfully, you would say ‘Ohtani-san’. This signifies a level of politeness and can be used in almost any context, whether you’re speaking to a colleague, a friend in a more formal setting, or even a stranger. It’s a simple yet profound way of acknowledging someone with courtesy.
For those not familiar with Japanese, understanding the nuance of ‘san’ is a window into the subtlety and respect of Japanese communication. It’s a small linguistic token, but it carries the weight of cultural significance and politeness.
Atsushi's Life in Korea 