Neighbors

Won't you be my neighbor?

You’ve seen さん [san] used after a first name to show respect when addressing or describing someone else. It can also be used after a last name and translated as Mr. or Ms.

たなかさんはやさしいです。
[Tanaka‑san wa yasashii desu]
Mr./Ms. Tanaka is nice.

When using both first and last names in Japanese, the last name comes first.

なかやまはなさんです。
[Nakayama Hana‑san desu]
She's Hana Nakayama.

This and that

Japanese has more than one word for this and that. この [kono] is used right before a person, place, or thing. Compare these examples:

これはかわいいコートです。
[kore wa kawaii kooto desu]
This is a cute coat.

このコートはかわいいです。
[kono kooto wa kawaii desu]
This coat is cute.