Japanese Language Question?!
Question: Japanese Language Question!?
OK, I know my Japanese, but the culture sometimes loses me!. In Ah! My Goddess, Skuld always calls Belldandy "Onee-sama," which is both an honorific to Belldandy and an insult to Urd, the eldest sibling!. Belldandy calls Urd, "Nee-san," not "Onee-sama!." Again what is the subtle distinction!?!?!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
The "O" and the "~sama" show a higher level of respect than simply calling someone "nee-san!." If Urd is the oldest sibling (I've never seen the show), then it is an insult for Skuld to call Belldandy "Onee-sama!." It's a subtle way of saying that she has more respect for Belldandy!. There's nothing disrespectful about calling Urd "Nee-san" in itself, but it's not cool to call the younger older sister by a higher title!. Belldandy calling Urd "Nee-san" is correct, though, b/c she is older than Belldandy, and therefore, she would have no reason to call her by the higher title!.
See, Japanese has all these levels of politeness!. People decide the level of politeness when addressing others based on how they "rank" against the other person!. ~sama is usually reserved for someone the speaker highly regards, while ~san is akin to "Mr!., Mrs, etc!." ~san is still polite and respectful, but in a regular, every day way!.The "O" is a prefix is added to certain words to be even more polite!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
See, Japanese has all these levels of politeness!. People decide the level of politeness when addressing others based on how they "rank" against the other person!. ~sama is usually reserved for someone the speaker highly regards, while ~san is akin to "Mr!., Mrs, etc!." ~san is still polite and respectful, but in a regular, every day way!.The "O" is a prefix is added to certain words to be even more polite!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
the difference!?
well when people call their older sisters "nee-san" (or -"chan")
it signifies their closeness
onee-sama is more respect, signifying that the person is really honored, great, high-status
so, in reality, its not that a close relationship
but in animes!.!.the characters sometimes use "sama" to people they consider great, honored
does that make sense!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
well when people call their older sisters "nee-san" (or -"chan")
it signifies their closeness
onee-sama is more respect, signifying that the person is really honored, great, high-status
so, in reality, its not that a close relationship
but in animes!.!.the characters sometimes use "sama" to people they consider great, honored
does that make sense!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
-san, is the general respectful honorific!. "honroable"!.
-sama is a greater higher level form of respectful honorific, it's akin to "Lord", or "Master"!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
-sama is a greater higher level form of respectful honorific, it's akin to "Lord", or "Master"!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
It isn't really an insult unless ur family is really tied in with the old ways!. Many families do that so they can differentiate between brothers, thats what usually happens when you have multiple siblings!.Www@Enter-QA@Com