What is the Difference Between Kun and San?

The difference between "Kun" and "San" in Japanese lies in their usage and the level of politeness they convey. Both are honorifics used in the Japanese language to address or refer to people, but they have distinct purposes and levels of formality.

• Kun (君/くん): This honorific is generally used by people of senior status addressing or referring to those of junior status, male children, male teenagers, or close male friends. It is less polite than "San" and is not used between women or when addressing one's superiors. In schools or companies, a male might address female inferiors by "Kun".
• San (さん): This honorific is more polite and is commonly used to address people of a similar age, status, or level of familiarity. It can be used with both surnames and given names. "San" is gender-neutral and is used for both men and women. In business settings, it is often used by superiors to address juniors, regardless of gender. Schoolteachers typically address male students using "Kun" and female students using "San" or "Chan".

In summary, "Kun" is a less formal honorific used primarily for males and in situations where the speaker is of higher status or seniority, while "San" is a more polite and gender-neutral honorific used for people of similar age, status, or familiarity.

Comparative Table: Kun vs San

Here is a table comparing the differences between "kun" and "san" in Japanese:

In summary, "kun" is an informal honorific used primarily for young males and teenagers, indicating a junior or inferior status, while "san" is a common honorific used for both males and females, indicating familiarity, respect, and equality.