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san

Elementary (A2)

IPA: /sæn/

KK: /sæn/

noun
Definition

A respectful title used in Japanese culture, added to a person's name to show politeness, regardless of their age or gender.


Example

I spoke to Mr. Tanaka-san about the project.


Conversation
Sloth A
Hey, have you met Yamamoto san yet?
Sloth B
Not yet, but I've heard a lot about him.
Sloth A
You should definitely say hi; he’s really friendly!
Sloth B
I will! I like how respectful the title san is.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
title
honorific
suffix
Antonyms
Root Explanation

The word 'san' originates from Latin 'sanus', meaning healthy or sound. It is often used in contexts related to health and well-being.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sanus' meaning healthy, which helps you remember that 'san' relates to health and soundness.

Visually Confused Words
swan
svan
stan
span
shan
sean
scan
sawn
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