How to Say ‘Sir / Ma'am’ in Japanese
お客様
o kyaku sama
[oh kyah-koo sama]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Drivers and shop staff address you as お客様 (okyakusama) instead of using your name; it's polite service language. You'd never call yourself or a friend this.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.
チケットを二枚お願いします。
Two tickets, please.
客
kyaku
[kyah-koo]
customer; guest
The core noun meaning “customer/guest.” In service Japanese, often paired with お or 様.
客への説明をわかりやすくします。
I make explanations to customers easy to understand.
様
sama
[sama]
honorific suffix
A suffix used to show respect, often for males.
社長様はこちらです。
This way, Mr. President.
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