The use of "no-kimi" is a title useful to a bearer of armor for a knight; you add it to the person's given name. Armigers of any stripe - bearers of naked Awards of Arms up to peers - could simply be addressed as "kimi" (if male) or "hime" (if female). The use of the title was common around a century ago as a term of respect. Another form of "-no-kimi" is to add "-gimi" to the person's given name. It literally means Lord or Lady. |
Honorifics Used in Japan |
In Japanese and Chinese, the family name is written first and the given name is written second. Japanese people do not usually have middle names. Japanese names are usually used with a title. Titles are suffixes added to the name. Surnames are always used except when talking to friends or family. In Japan Kaoru would be "Orihara Kaoru" and if she were a real person, I would likely be calling her "Orihara-san". Common suffixes are in the following list: -chan (Used to express intimacy or as a diminutive to children or pets) -hime (Princess) -ko (Suffix for a woman's given name) -kun (Mr.; Ms. - Used when addressing younger people or colleagues) -sama (Mr.; Mrs.; Ms. - Formal) -san (Mr.; Mrs.; Ms.) -senpai (Senior; elder; predecessor) -sensei (Teacher; master; doctor; lawyers; politicians) -tachi (Plural indicator) There are also words used to address people you have relation to or look up to. ane-ki (Older sister or older sister-like figure) ani-ki (Older brother or older brother-like figure - tough personality) ani-ue (Older brother or older brother-like figure - more refined term) oba (Middle-aged woman; aunt) obaa (Grandmother) oji (Middle-aged man; uncle) ojii (Grandfather) ojoo (Young girl; some else's daughter) okaa (Mother) onee (Older sister) onii (Older brother) otoo (Father) ouji-sama (Prince) oujo-sama (Princess) |