Talking to little kids.
- revolutionary
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Talking to little kids.
I've yet to come across any Japanese terms of endearment for young children. Here at home, I find myself calling the kids I work with things like sweetie and baby. They're all kindergarten age or less, and most of them like to be spoken to that way. In Japan, would it be appropriate to call the children things like that if you were their teacher? And what are some of the Japanese terms other than "chan" and "kun" someone might use?
I'd appreciate any help.
I'd appreciate any help.
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- Dehitay
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RE: Talking to little kids.
I would use おじょうちゃん for small girls
but I forgot the equivalent for boys
it was probly something like むすこちゃん
but I forgot the equivalent for boys
it was probly something like むすこちゃん
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- revolutionary
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RE: Talking to little kids.
Thanks bunches.
Ojiyauchiyan? Did I romanize it right? I always forget how to tell when ん is an m or an n. I'll have to check my book.
Ojiyauchiyan? Did I romanize it right? I always forget how to tell when ん is an m or an n. I'll have to check my book.
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- Dehitay
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RE: Talking to little kids.
if you're referring to おじょうちゃん, the romaji is ojouchan
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- revolutionary
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RE: Talking to little kids.
Thanks. I just started learning hiragana yesterday. Obviously, I haven't come far in either written or spoken Japanese yet. I'm trying to get better though.
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RE: Talking to little kids.
Never heard that before.Dehitay wrote:
I would use おじょうちゃん for small girls
but I forgot the equivalent for boys
it was probly something like むすこちゃん
Try ぼく.
- keatonatron
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RE: Talking to little kids.
When refering to a kid? Why? They'll think you're talking about yourself and not them.Mike Cash wrote:
Never heard that before.
Try ぼく.
RE: Talking to little kids.
When talking to a kid.keatonatron wrote:When refering to a kid?Mike Cash wrote:
Never heard that before.
Try ぼく.
I thought your Japanese was better than that.Why? They'll think you're talking about yourself and not them.
RE: Talking to little kids.
Words are inadequate to express my disappointment.
RE: Talking to little kids.
you call a child boku? :prevolutionary wrote:
In Japan, would it be appropriate to call the children things like that if you were their teacher?
RE: Talking to little kids.
Yes, it is very common for adults to call little boys ぼく.aKuMu wrote:
you call a child boku? :p
If you see a little boy crying it would be perfectly normal to ask him:
「ぼく、どうしたの?」
As to the original question, there really are no equivalents to "sweetie" and "honey" and such in Japanese. Even ojousan and boku are not used the same as those words. Usually teachers just call children by their names, often shortened and with "chan" or "kun" added: Ken-chan, Ma-kun, Mi-chan, or whatever.
Recently it has become politically correct even at primary schools for teachers to address children, both boys and girls, by their full names using さん (san): Taro-san, Hanako-san. I personally think it was fine the way it was.
Last edited by Oyaji on Wed 10.04.2006 9:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
RE: Talking to little kids.
Incidentally as of tomorrow the Edict entry will be ...Oyaji wrote:
Yes, it is very common for adults to call little boys ぼく.
If you see a little boy crying it would be perfectly normal to ask him:
「ぼく、どうしたの?」
僕 【ぼく】(n) (1) (male) I; (2) you (used addressing young children); (3) (See 僕(しもべ)) manservant
And I've added the example sentence ...
「ぼくだいじょうぶ」といわれました。 「だいじょうぶ」とこたえました。
I was asked, "You OK, kid?". "Fine," I replied.
The 大辞林 entry can be seen
here
Incidentally it doesn't say so in the dictionary but is that use of ぼく
typically feminine speech?
Last edited by paul_b on Wed 10.04.2006 8:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
RE: Talking to little kids.
I wouldn't say "feminine" necessarily, because men do say it, but even men usually say it in a very gentle, friendly way, at least in my experience. Even when reproving, "boku" sounds much less harsh than "kimi" or "omae".
RE: Talking to little kids.
That whole [F] [M] stuff has very fuzzy dividing lines in practice.Oyaji wrote:
I wouldn't say "feminine" necessarily, because men do say it
- keatonatron
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RE: Talking to little kids.
I've never heard that beforeOyaji wrote:
Yes, it is very common for adults to call little boys ぼく.
