- 1). Say a woman's family name first and her given name second if addressing her by her full name. However, the Japanese address others primarily by last name followed by a suffix--except when speaking to children or close friends, in which case using a given name is appropriate.
- 2). Add the suffix "san," which does not change according to marital status, after a woman's family name as a sign of respect. The more polite version of "san" is "sama." Use this suffix in formal situations.
- 3). Use "chan," the diminutive form of "san," if the woman is a close friend or a family member who is younger than you.
- 4). Address a woman whose knowledge is superior to yours, particularly a teacher, simply with the term "sensei."
- 5). Avoid calling a woman by her name without adding a suffix, which is viewed as rude in the Japanese culture.