Pappa-san
- Thread starter giannid
- Start date
Hi giannid,
It is my understanding that "san" is "sir" or "mister" (maybe ma'am too?) in Japanese. In Italian, it means "saint".
The way that it is used in your example is Japanese
(But don't take my word on the specifics, I don't study Japanese)
-M
It is my understanding that "san" is "sir" or "mister" (maybe ma'am too?) in Japanese. In Italian, it means "saint".
The way that it is used in your example is Japanese
(But don't take my word on the specifics, I don't study Japanese)
-M
Papa-san and mama-san are indeed Japanese. The loan words for father and mother having gotten affixed with the non-gender honorification marker -san, their meanings are no longer just father and mother.
In Japan, I most often hear the two in bars, hostess clubs and small restaurants, where the owner, the manager or both are called thus by customers and employees. They are intimate appellations based on a make-believe blood-relationship.
I would not, however, use papa-san and mama-san in reference to my own or someone else's parents.
I am not 100% sure but Japanese emigrants might have brought these words into US.
In Japan, I most often hear the two in bars, hostess clubs and small restaurants, where the owner, the manager or both are called thus by customers and employees. They are intimate appellations based on a make-believe blood-relationship.
I would not, however, use papa-san and mama-san in reference to my own or someone else's parents.
I am not 100% sure but Japanese emigrants might have brought these words into US.
Thanks for the information.
I heard it in this English song: Straight to Hell by The Clash.
http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the_clash/straight-to-hell.html
You wanna join in a chorus of the Amerasian blues?
When it's Christmas out in Ho Chi Minh City
Kiddie say papa papa papa papa-san take me home
I heard it in this English song: Straight to Hell by The Clash.
http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the_clash/straight-to-hell.html
You wanna join in a chorus of the Amerasian blues?
When it's Christmas out in Ho Chi Minh City
Kiddie say papa papa papa papa-san take me home
My son did Japanese at school, and was really embarassed when he used 'Mama-san' inappropriately, his (Japanese) teacher explained that a Mama-san is the madam of a brothel!
Knowing The Clash as I do, that's exactly what they will have meant...
Papa and mama (as I implied supra) are loan words into Japanese. I would think they come from French papa and mamman. [As it goes with any words that are still recognised as loans, their use is surrounded by constraints and implications.] They might have come from other Romance languages but surely their roots are Latin pater and mater.
On the other hand, paysan, a French word meaning farmer is related to English peasant and pagan. They ultimately go back to Latin pagus, region.
On the other hand, paysan, a French word meaning farmer is related to English peasant and pagan. They ultimately go back to Latin pagus, region.
"Papa" and "mama" are common in English, French and Spanish, I believe, and I think also in Italian. I believe you are right about the origin, which is most likely Latin.
I think the use of さん is a bit tricky as a sign of respect. I don't know if this is the right thread to talk about it though.
Gaer
Papa-san would sound strange in Japan , but mama-san as the lady in charge of a night-club is common ...
Papa and mama are echoic baby talk, originally from latin or greek, other languages use , for example, aba, ima, abu, om(m)a etc .
Remember also that p and m often interchange.
Papa and mama are echoic baby talk, originally from latin or greek, other languages use , for example, aba, ima, abu, om(m)a etc .
Remember also that p and m often interchange.