Chinese Manhua Honorifics and Titles Glossary
Understanding Chinese honorifics and titles is crucial for anyone reading or translating manhua. Unlike simple names, these terms convey relationships, social status, respect, and sometimes even a hint of intimacy or disdain. Misinterpreting an honorific can drastically change the perception of a character's personality or the dynamics of a scene. This glossary provides a comprehensive guide to common Chinese forms of address, helping you navigate the nuances of manhua dialogue and character interactions with greater accuracy.
25 Terms
Chinese| Term | Romanization | Literal Meaning | Usage | Example | Translation Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 先生 | xiānshēng | first born / born before | Mr. / Sir / Gentleman | A shopkeeper addresses a male customer politely as '先生', or a younger person refers to an older, respected male academic as '李先生'. | Commonly translated as 'Mr.' for married or older men, or 'Sir' when addressing a stranger politely. Can also be a general term for 'gentleman'. |
| 小姐 | xiǎojiě | small elder sister | Miss / Young lady | A waiter addresses a young, unmarried woman as '小姐', or a servant refers to their master's daughter as '大小姐' (dà xiǎojiě - eldest young lady). | Often translated as 'Miss' for unmarried women. In some modern contexts, it can carry negative connotations (e.g., prostitute), but in manhua, it's generally used respectfully for younger women. |
| 女士 | nǚshì | female scholar / woman | Madam / Ms. / Lady | A speaker addresses a mixed audience, referring to women as '各位女士' (gèwèi nǚshì - ladies and gentlemen), or a formal announcement addresses a woman as '王女士' (Wáng Nǚshì). | A more formal and neutral term than '小姐', used for both married and unmarried women. Best translated as 'Ms.' or 'Madam'. |
| 少爷 | shàoyé | young master | Young Master (son of a wealthy or influential family) | A servant respectfully addresses the son of the household as '少爷', or a bodyguard refers to their charge as '少爷'. | Directly translated as 'Young Master'. Often used in historical or fantasy settings, or modern stories involving powerful families. |
| 夫人 | fūrén | wife of a high official | Madam / Mrs. (wife of a prominent or wealthy man) | A guest greets the host's wife as '李夫人' (Lǐ Fūrén), or a servant refers to the mistress of the house as '夫人'. | Translated as 'Madam' or 'Mrs.' It denotes respect for a married woman, often one of high status or wealth. |
| 殿下 | diànxià | below the hall | Your Highness / His/Her Royal Highness | A courtier bows deeply while addressing a prince or princess as '殿下'. | Translated as 'Your Highness'. Used for royalty (princes, princesses, sometimes empresses/emperors depending on context and era), often in fantasy or historical manhua. |
| 陛下 | bìxià | below the steps (to the throne) | Your Majesty / His/Her Majesty | An official prostrates themselves before the Emperor, addressing him as '陛下'. | Translated as 'Your Majesty'. Reserved for emperors or empresses, indicating supreme imperial authority. |
| 大人 | dàrén | big person / great person | Lord / Master / Esteemed Sir/Madam | A subordinate addresses a high-ranking official or powerful figure as '大人', or a commoner addresses a magistrate as '大人'. | Very versatile. Can be 'Lord', 'Master', 'Your Excellency', or 'Esteemed Sir/Madam'. Conveys respect for someone in a position of authority or superior status. |
| 前辈 | qiánbèi | senior / elder generation | Senior / Mentor / Senior colleague | A junior student addresses an older, more experienced student in a club as '前辈', or a new employee refers to an experienced coworker as '前辈'. | Translated as 'Senior' or '先輩' (Japanese romanization sometimes used). Refers to someone with more experience, knowledge, or who has been in a role longer. |
| 晚辈 | wǎnbèi | junior / younger generation | Junior / My junior | An older character refers to a younger character as '这晚辈' (zhè wǎnbèi - this junior), or a younger character humbly refers to themselves as '晚辈'. | Translated as 'Junior' or 'My junior'. The opposite of '前辈', used by or for someone less experienced or younger. |
| 师傅 | shīfu | master / teacher father | Master / Teacher / Skilled worker | An apprentice addresses their martial arts instructor as '师傅', or a customer addresses a taxi driver or a skilled mechanic as '师傅'. | Translated as 'Master' (for martial arts, crafts) or 'Sifu'. Can also be a general polite address for a skilled worker like a driver or chef. |
| 道友 | dàoyǒu | dao friend | Fellow Daoist / Fellow cultivator | Two cultivators meet and address each other respectfully as '道友' in a wuxia or xianxia manhua. | Translated as 'Fellow Daoist' or 'Fellow Cultivator'. Specific to wuxia/xianxia genres, denoting someone who shares the same path of cultivation. |
| 掌门 | zhǎngmén | head of the gate | Sect Master / Head of a school/sect | Disciples of a martial arts sect refer to their leader as '掌门', discussing the '掌门's decision'. | Translated as 'Sect Master', 'Head of the Sect', or 'Grandmaster'. Used for the leader of a martial arts school or cultivation sect. |
| 盟主 | méngzhǔ | alliance master | Alliance Leader | The various sects of the martial world elect a leader to unite them, who is then addressed as '盟主'. | Translated as 'Alliance Leader' or 'Martial Alliance Leader'. Common in wuxia where different factions form an alliance against a common enemy. |
| 圣上 | shèngshàng | holy above | The Emperor / Your Majesty (a more reverent term) | Ministers in the imperial court refer to the reigning emperor with immense reverence as '圣上' when discussing state affairs. | Translated as 'Your Majesty' or 'His Imperial Majesty'. A highly deferential term for the emperor, emphasizing his sacred status. |
| 姑姑 | gūgu | father's sister | Paternal Aunt / Auntie (general term for older woman) | A child addresses their father's sister as '姑姑', or a younger person uses '姑姑' to politely address an unrelated older woman. | Translated as 'Aunt' or 'Auntie'. Can be a specific family title or a general respectful address for an older woman, similar to 'obasan' in Japanese. |
| 大爷 | dàyé | big master | Uncle / Esteemed Elder (general term for older man) | A young person addresses an unrelated elderly man in the neighborhood as '大爷', or the eldest son of a family is referred to as '大爷' by servants. | Translated as 'Uncle' or 'Elder Brother' (if referring to the eldest son). A polite address for an older man, or the eldest son of a family. |
| 王爷 | wángyé | king master | Prince / King (feudal lord) | A servant addresses a royal prince as '王爷', or a general refers to a regional feudal lord as '王爷'. | Translated as 'Prince' (for imperial princes) or 'Lord'. Used for a male member of the imperial family or a powerful feudal lord. |
| 娘娘 | niángniáng | mother mother | Empress / Imperial Consort / Goddess | Eunuchs and palace maids address the Empress or a high-ranking imperial concubine as '娘娘'. | Translated as 'Empress', 'Imperial Consort', or 'Your Majesty'. Reserved for empresses, consorts, or even goddesses in mythological settings. |
| 贵妃 | guìfēi | honored concubine | Imperial Concubine of High Rank | An official reports to the '贵妃' on matters concerning the inner palace, or a maid serves the '贵妃'. | Translated as 'Imperial Concubine' or specific title like 'Noble Consort'. Refers to a high-ranking concubine of the emperor. |
| 公子 | gōngzǐ | duke's son / prince | Young Master / Young Noble | A commoner addresses a wealthy or aristocratic young man as '公子', or a female character flirts with a handsome '公子'. | Translated as 'Young Master' or 'Young Noble'. Similar to '少爷' but can sometimes imply a more cultivated or refined demeanor. Often used for male leads in romance or historical manhua. |
| 姑娘 | gūniang | aunt girl | Girl / Maiden / Miss | An old woman affectionately addresses a young, unmarried girl as '姑娘', or a hero rescues a '姑娘' in distress. | Translated as 'Girl', 'Maiden', or 'Miss'. A more traditional and often affectionate term for a young, unmarried woman. Can be less formal than '小姐'. |
| 阁下 | géxià | below the pavilion | Your Excellency / Esteemed Sir/Madam | In a formal or slightly diplomatic context, one powerful figure addresses another as '阁下'. | Translated as 'Your Excellency' or 'Esteemed Sir/Madam'. A very formal and respectful term, often used between individuals of high status or in formal settings. |
| 英雄 | yīngxióng | hero / outstanding person | Hero / Champion | A crowd cheers for the '英雄' who saved them from a monster, or a grateful person thanks their '英雄'. | Translated as 'Hero' or 'Champion'. A direct term for someone who performs heroic deeds. |
| 前辈 | qiánbèi | senior / elder generation | Senior / Mentor / Senior colleague | A junior student addresses an older, more experienced student in a club as '前辈', or a new employee refers to an experienced coworker as '前辈'. | Translated as 'Senior' or '先輩' (Japanese romanization sometimes used). Refers to someone with more experience, knowledge, or who has been in a role longer. |
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