君

• Reading: くん
• Romaji: kun
• Kanji breakdown: 君 (kun/kimi) — lord, suffix for juniors
• Pronunciation: /kɯɴ/

Meaning

Mr. (junior); Master. A suffix used after names of younger people or subordinates, especially boys.

When read as くん, this is an honorific suffix used primarily after the names of boys, male classmates, or male subordinates. It is less formal than さん and conveys familiarity. In workplaces, superiors may use 君 for younger male and sometimes female colleagues. Also used in the National Diet when addressing fellow members.

Examples

1. 田中君、ちょっと来てくれる？ Tanaka, can you come here for a sec?
2. 山本君は今日休みです。 Yamamoto is absent today.
3. 鈴木君はサッカーが上手ですね。 Suzuki is really good at soccer, isn't he?

Usage Guide

Context: school, workplace, among friends, addressing juniors

Tone: familiar

Origin & History

The kanji 君 originally meant 'lord' or 'sovereign' in classical Chinese. In Japanese, it developed into both a casual pronoun (きみ) and a familiar suffix (くん) for addressing younger people.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal