How to call a person in Japanese? Traditionally, we have used places they usually are to show respect when we call a person or ourselves. For example: 1. あなた(anata): is now used to translate “YOU”, but its original meaning is “a person over there”. Although 「あなた」is often used in Japanese textbooks, we only use 「あなた」in specific occasions in real life. 2. 手前(temae): In contrast with 「あなた」, 「手前」means “a person in front of my hands=myself”. This word was used to call oneself in a modest manner. 3. 奥様(oku sama): 「奥」means “inside or in house”. This word is used to call a wife. This is because a wife was thought to be in house. 4. お前(omae): is impolite word to say “YOU”, means “a person in front of me”. 5. 北の方(kitanokata): was used to call a lawful wife of a nobleman, means a wife who lives in a northern house in the premise.(There were basically several wives in the premise) 6. 御屋形様／御館様(oyakata sama): was used to call a lord. 「館」and「屋形」both means “an aggregate of residences” or ”a castle”. It means “the head of the residences” 7. 殿様(tono sama): same as 「館／屋形」、「殿」also means “an aggregate of residences” or ”a castle” but it’s bigger. 8. お局様(otsubone sama): was used to call a high rank female officer working for emperors, generals, noblemen and so on. 「局」means a private room for an officer. These days, this word is used to call an office lady who is working for long time and overbearing to other workers. These are examples how we call persons according to where they are. We also use the positions or roles they play to call persons instead of calling their names. For example, we usually use 「社長(president)」「部長(general manager)」「先生(teacher)」when we call them. Or we use 「お父さん(father)」「お兄ちゃん(elder brother)」「おじいちゃん(grand father)」to call them or even to call themselves.