Japanese honorifics and age...?

Question

When using honorifics, like -chan and -kun, does age matter? For example, would it be alright for a girl to use -chan for a female friend who is a little bit older?

Answer 1

Age does matter but the occasion and context matters more, as others have pointed out.

Generally speaking, it's not ok to call a female friend -chan if she's older and you are an adult. There are a few cases where it is ok, though; for example, if she's someone you have known since your childhood and you used to call her -chan as a kid, you can still call her that way when you're sixty and she's eighty.

Answer 2

I think all three answers so far have nailed it pretty well... its not about age per se, its about social status. Are you above, below or equal to the person you are talking to or about? Often, status and age are linked in Japan so often you will rank someone younger than you, and be below someone older. However, the status is coming from position, not age.

One more note: the rules aren't as rigid as many American believe and honorifics can be used lots of ways. You might, for example, use a very polite form talking too someone you wanted to insult. It doesn't mean you are being polite so much as saying "you are distant and different from me."

HTH

Answer 3

sorry to say that but 14 yrs old is an invalid claim. kun does not express respect. for same age or junior (towards both men and women). we use this word when we work at office too. not only for students. we stop saying 'kun' when we became 40s or 50s at office. because 40s and 50s are already have post at office (like manager or chief). so we dont say 'kun' in public but private. we definitely use 'kun' when we're 30s (im 30s). im japanese

Answer 4

If it's your friend then age doesn't really matter. It's all about context-you might address the same person as san at work but chan in your private life. Guys who are in their fifties who are golf buddies might address each other as kun when they are on the golf course, but the same would sound kind of silly in another context.

Answer 5

In my opinion, it matters who you are talking to at that moment than what that person's age is.

For example, if you were talking to your friend Miyuki, you would probably call her "Miyuki-chan" or just plain "Miyuki". However, if you were talking to a teacher or someone who isn't in your "circle" of friends, you would say, "Miyuki-san". She's your friend, you should show that you respect her.
This goes opposite for family, however, where you say "haha" for mother when talking about your mother to someone else but "okaasan" when talking *to* your mother.

You can see more in-depth talk on Japanese honorifics and their usage here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_titles