ちゃん

Japanese

Alternative spelling
chang (Internet slang)

Alternative forms

• (slang) たん (-tan)

Etymology

Variant of さん (-san).

Suffix

ちゃん • (-chan) 

1. (familiar or childish) title affixed to people's names; -chan

   シュワちゃん

   Shuwa-chan

   Arnie (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

2. title affixed to animals

   くまちゃんと遊(あそ)ぶ

   kuma-chan to asobu

   play with Mr. Bear

Usage notes

• When affixed to people's names, ちゃん (chan) is most commonly added to names for young women and children.
• When affixed to animal nouns, ちゃん (chan) is most commonly used by children and young women.

Related terms

• ちゃま (-chama), from さま (-sama)

Descendants

• → English: -chan
• → Chinese:

  → Mandarin: 醬／酱 (jiàng)

• → Korean: -짱 (jjang)
• → Russian: тян (tjan)