-shi "Mr ms etc"

[KK1]

When is she used instead of -kun -san etc.? Heard it today on Full Metal Alchemist.

[Eishagishi]

My take on it is to use "-shi" whenever third-person voice is appropriate and you're speaking politely about someone with a professional title or a person of note. I hear it used in news reporter interviews and see it in print during interview situations.

[JohnThacker]

BTW, the kanji used is æ°?

I've seen it mostly written, referring to someone in the third person when not present. That includes when the story is written in the third person and the author is speaking about the protagonist.

I think it's quite uncommon when spoken. Probably sounds somewhat stiff and formal. Not as respectful as -sama, though.

[quenelf]

I watch Japanese news every day for practice (though, uh, don't think I'm learning that much, since I still don't understand much of it... this could be because language practice and IRC don't mix) and I see æ°? a lot in the subtitles.

However, I have a feeling they don't actually say it, but say 'san' or something... I'll have to start paying attention　to that.

(For those who haven't watched them, Japanese news bulletins or at least the ones I watch tend to subtitle most of the time, but the subtitles aren't exactly the text - often they summarise the story while the newsreader is giving more detail, or simplify what an interviewee is saying / correct their Japanese, etc.)

--quen

[wrex]

[ QUOTE ]
quen said:
I watch Japanese news every day for practice (though, uh, don't think I'm learning that much, since I still don't understand much of it... this could be because language practice and IRC don't mix) and I see æ°? a lot in the subtitles.

However, I have a feeling they don't actually say it, but say 'san' or something... I'll have to start paying attention　to that.
--quen

[/ QUOTE ]

It'll depend on who they're talking about on the news. For example, for they'll probably add "shi" to foreign politicians or celebrities, but whenever one has an official title, they'll use that; for example, "Bush-daitouryou" (President Bush). Others have certain titles or designations too, for example, "Tani-senshu" (Tani athlete) or "Suzuki yougisha" ((criminal) suspect Suzuki).

[jcaliff]

If I recall, they always refer to Bin Ladin as Bin ladin-shi.