Noun
Nouns
Nouns are words that refer to people, things, and concepts. A noun can serve as the subject or the direct object in a sentence. Japanese nouns can be followed by particles or the copula です desu (to be). Unlike in English, Japanese nouns do not change forms depending on whether they are plural or singular.
Proper nouns
A proper noun names a specific item, such as a specific person, a specific institution, or a specific place. For example:
  • Family names, such as 山田 Yamada (Yamada), 森 Mori (Mori), and スミ
  • ス Sumisu (Smith)
  • Male given names, such as 武 Takeshi (Takeshi) and ジョージ Jōji (George)
  • Female given names, such as 陽子Yōko (Yoko) and メアリーMearī (Mary)
  • Country names, such as 日本 Nihon/Nippon (Japan), アメリカ Amerika
  • (the United States), and 中国 Chūgoku (China)
  • City names, such as 東京 Tōkyō (Tokyo), トロント Toronto (Toronto),
  • and ソウル Sōru (Seoul)
  • Mountains, such as 富士山 Fujisan (Mt. Fuji)
  • Corporations, such as ソニー Sonī (Sony)

Respectful titles
When addressing or referring to someone, you add a respectful title after his or her name. The most neutral respectful title is さん san, which can be used after either a family name or a given name, regardless of the person’s gender or marital status. For example:
  • 田中さん Tanaka-san (Mr./Ms./Mrs. Tanaka)
  • 陽子さん Yōko-san (Yoko)
  • 田中陽子さん Tanaka Yōko-san (Ms./Mrs. Yoko Tanaka)
  • マイクさん Maiku-san (Mike)
  • スミスさん Sumisu-san (Mr./Ms./Mrs. Smith)
For young girls or boys, ちゃん chan can be used after the given name to show affection, but 君 kun is more commonly used for boys. 様 sama is used in extremely polite contexts but is typically used for addressing a business customer or client. If the person has a certain position or function, his or her professional title, such as 部長 buchō (division manager), 社長 shachō (company president), or 先生 sensei (professor, teacher, medical doctor, etc.), should be used after the family name instead of さん san. For example:
  • 山田社長 Yamada shachō (President Yamada)
  • スミス先生 Sumisu sensei (Professor Smith)
Do not use a respectful title or professional title when addressing yourself. When you tell your name, just say your name, without the respectful title. Adults usually say their family name, as in:
  • 山田と申します。 Yamada to mōshimasu. (I’m Yamada.)
  • 山田です。 Yamada desu. (I’m Yamada.)
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