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kun
What does kun mean?
A name-suffix of familiarity typically used for boys, young men or juniors, and sometimes by seniors addressing subordinates of either gender.
"The teacher called on Tanaka-kun to answer."
Origin
Japanese 君 (kun), an informal honorific of address.
Frequently asked questions
What does -kun mean?
It's a Japanese honorific of familiarity attached to a name, usually for boys, young men or juniors — like a casual, friendly tag.
How do you use -kun?
Add it after someone's name, as in 'Tanaka-kun'. It's used for younger males or juniors, and sometimes by a senior addressing a subordinate.
Is -kun only for boys?
Mostly, but not strictly — seniors sometimes use it toward subordinates of either gender. It's more familiar than -san but less intimate than dropping honorifics entirely.
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