Introducing People Around You

In Japanese there are endings that we can put on a person's name to show how we relate to the person socially.

田中さんです [Tanaka san desu]
It's Mr. Tanaka.

• ___さん [___san]
• Used in formal or semi-formal situations for both genders and people you aren't close to.

田中さまです [Tanaka sama desu]
It's Mr. Tanaka.

• ___さま [___sama]
• Used to someone higher-ranking or someone we respect a lot.

みなちゃんです [Mina chan desu]
It's Mina.

• ___ちゃん [___chan]
• A term of endearment or familiarity, often used for children, close friends, or romantic partners.

けんくんです [Ken kun desu]
It's Ken.

• ___くん [___kun]
• Used for boys or young men, particularly by superiors, teachers, or among peers in casual settings.

• A: この人は誰ですか
  Who is this person?
• B: 田中さんです [Tanaka san desu]
  It's Mr. Tanaka.
• B: この人は誰ですか
  Who is this person?
• B: みなちゃんです [Mina chan desu]
  It's Mina.
• B: 可愛いですね
  She's cute!