MovieChat Forums > Omoide no Marnie (2015) Discussion > The suffix -chan for character names?

The suffix -chan for character names?


I noticed that Anna is called Anna-chan and same goes for other child characters. What's that for?

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Last movie watched: When Marnie Was There (8/10)

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These are typical suffixes in Japanese names that are used:

- Chan: used by an older person to a younger person or subordinate... usually child or younger age person

- San: Used by people equal (roughly) in age or seniority. Safest one to use in general

- Kun: Used for boys, similar to "-San"

- Sama: Used for high ranking people (CEO, President, etc.)

- No marker: can be rude, but some people drop the suffix if they are VERY familiar with the person.

- Sensei: Used for teachers or doctors

- Sempai: Used for someone older than you in school settings or training

- Kohai: Used for someone lower than you in school settings or training

There are some others, but those are the main ones I could think of.

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Thanks.

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Last movie watched: When Marnie Was There (8/10)

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'Chan' is also used informally for family members, even those older than yourself.
Obaa-san = Grandmother; Obaa-chan = Granny.
You can think of it as the equivalent of 'dear', perhaps.

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Young girls are called -chan, young boys are called -kun. Adults of both sexes are called -san.

It isn't that easy, and there are dozens of examples that shows otherwise, but that is often how it's used.

It's basically tells you that the other characters in the movie sees here as a young child girl and not as an adult yet.

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