The Japanese Language |
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Welcome, to the PSSM The Japanese Language series info section.
This area contains information about the origin language of the Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon anime. |
| < Series Info section |
| Writing System | Honorific Titles | Popular Phrases |
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Writing
System Below describes the different writing systems used in the Japanese language. All of them appear somewhere in the Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon anime, so here is your chance to have a better understanding of what they stand for and what they do. The Latin alphabet is also used in some instances in Japan text. |
| Katakana | Hiragana | Furigana | Kanji |
| Katakana 「片仮名」 |
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A component of the
Japanese writing system. Katakana means "fragmentary
kana" as the characters are derived from more complex
kanji. Katakana is a syllabic script (simplest out of
hiragana and kanji) which is often used to write foreign
words. Katakana is also used to write the names of
foreign countries, places, personal names, and sometimes
used to write Japanese companies such as Suzuki
「スズキ
> Suzuki」.
Katakana is also used to
represent sounds in the Japanese language. Instances of katakana in Sailor Moon are the planet names of each of the Sailor Soldiers. 「セーラームーン Sērā Mūn > Sailor Moon」, etc. Also villain names which are derived from names of minerals are also written using katakana. All Magical powers and items that use English or foreign words are written using katakana, e.g. 「ムーン・パワー Mūn Pawā > Moon Power」, 「シャボン・スプレー Shabon Supurē > Sabão Spray」. Click HERE to view a katakana conversion table. |
| Hiragana 「平仮名」 |
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Another component of the
Japanese writing system. Hiragana is another syllabic
script (like katakana and kanji) which is used to write
words and names that do not have any kanji. Hiragana and
katakana are both known as kana systems; Each is either
a vowel
「あ a」,
a consonant following a vowel
「は ha」,
or 'n'
「ん」.
Hiragana can also be used above kanji to show the
pronunciation of that kanji; this is known as furigana.
Katakana can also be used as furigana, but is only used
when another word is intended to be said. Click HERE to view a hiragana conversion table. |
| Furigana 「振り仮名」 |
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A Japanese reading aid. These are small kana which (usually katakana or hiragana) are either written above the line (for horizontal kanji), or to the right of the text line (for vertical kanji). These are used to indicate pronunciation. Furigana can also be used for puns, or to indicate meanings of a foreign word. An example of this is the "Princess" in Princess Kakyū's name. |
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| Above is the kanji representation "Ōjo" which in English means "Imperial Princess". This is shown after the kanji of Kakyū's name (which isn't displayed). Above the Ōjo kanji is the furigana (using katakana) that is pronouncing "Purinsesu" which is the Japanese spelling of the English word "Princess". This is done to show that the character's title will be pronounced as "Kakyū Purinsesu" (Kakyu Princess) instead of "Kakyū Ōjo". |
| Kanji 「漢字」 |
| The main component of the Japanese writing system. Kanji is another syllabic script (like katakana and hiragana) which is used for writing Japanese dialogue and Japanese native personal names. Japanese kanji is derived from Chinese characters. There are many ambiguities in kanji, and that is why furigana is sometimes used to indicate the pronunciation of words. Kanji is used in Sailor Moon to represent the names of some of the main characters, such as Usagi Tsukino. |
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| "Tsukino, Usagi" is represented with kanji for her family name "Tsukino", and hiragana for her given name "Usagi". In this case, this was done because of the pun on Usagi's name. Click HERE to read more. |
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Honorific
Titles |
| Chan 「ちゃん」 |
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Chan is a diminutive suffix. Using the
Chan honorific signifies
familiarity and is used specifically
when referring to pets, children,
and close friends. Using this suffix for someone who is older than you is
considered to be very rude. Sometimes names are shortened when
attaching Chan, is known to be more intimate than attached to the
full name. The Sailor Soldiers all use the suffix Chan when referring to one another. In both civilian form and Soldier form Chan is used, e.g. Mako-chan 「まこちゃん」, Mercury-chan 「マーキュリーちゃん」. |
| Sama 「様」 |
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Sama is a formal version of San. Using the
Sama honorific
signifies showing
great respect for someone who is a higher rank than oneself. Mostly
used for someone older than yourself, it can also be used for people of royalty,
leaders and other people you respect for any reason. The generals of the Dark Kingdom use this suffix for Queen Beryl 「クイン・ベリル様 Kuin Beriru-sama」. Sailor Moon also uses Sama when referring to Tuxedo Mask 「タキシード仮面様 Takishido Kamen-sama」. |
| San 「さん」 |
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San is probably the most common of
honorific titles. Using the San honorific
signifies
formality and is the Japanese equivalent of "Mr.", "Ms.", "Mrs.",
and "Miss" in Western cultures. The San honorific is usually
attached to the names of people outside of your household such as
classmates, teachers, etc. This suffix can also be attached to the
name of a trade that someone is in, such as; Mr. Baker
「木工さん Mokkō-san」.
In some cases San can be attached to certain kinds of foods and even
animals. Sakurada-sensei refers to Usagi as "Miss Tsukino" 「月野さん Tsukino-san」 and Umino calls Usagi "Miss Usagi" 「うさぎさん Usagi-san」 because he respects her. |
| Kun 「君」 |
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Kun is an informal and intimate
honorific used towards males. Using the Kun suffix signifies a
relationship of boys growing up together, a boss to an employee
(male or female), teacher to male students,
older male students to younger male students. Kun is never used for
one's own child and can be sometimes considered rude if done so. Makoto refers to Shinozaki as "Shinozaki-kun". |
| Senpai 「先輩」 |
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Senpai is used for students when
addressing senior students. Using Senpai can signify senior
positions in athletics and sport clubs, and business settings. Ittou Asanuma refers to Mamoru as "Mamoru-senpai" 「まもる先輩」 |
| Sensei 「先生」 |
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Sensei is used to refer to or
address teacher. Using the Sensei honorific shows respect to
someone who has obtained a certain level of mastery in a
profession. Sensei is also used by Manga fans towards the
authors. It is also used in Martial Arts when referring to the
instructors. Sakurada is referred to as "Sakurada-sensei", along with the rest of the teachers at Jūban Junior High. |
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| The lack of a honorific suffix can show a great friendship or a very close relationship. It can also mean a lack of respect for someone. Rei sometimes refers to Usagi without the use of a honorific - Haruka and Michiru also do this for each other. |