Japanese nicknames, called adana (あだ名), are built from a few simple patterns. Most start from the person's own name: shortened, doubled or given a friendly ending. Because the patterns are so regular, you can usually guess a Japanese nickname from the name itself.
Nicknames sit alongside honorifics. Calling someone by a nickname, or by their name without -san, is a sign of closeness, so it is usually for family, friends and partners. See Japanese honorifics for when each suffix fits.
Add -chan or -kun
The simplest nickname is the name plus an affectionate suffix: -chan for girls, small children and close friends, -kun for boys and younger men.
- Yui → Yui-chan: a girl or close friend
- Haruto → Haruto-kun: a boy
- Sakura → Sakura-chan: a girl
Shorten to two sounds
Japanese nicknames often keep the first two sounds of a name and add -chan or -kun. It is the most common way friends and family shorten a name.
- Haruka → Haru-chan
- Takuya → Taku
- Yoshiko → Yoshi-chan
- Kazuki → Kazu
Double a sound
Repeating a short sound gives a cute nickname, often for small children.
- Nanami → Nana
- Momoko → Momo
- Kyōko → Kyon-kyon: the nickname of singer Kyōko Koizumi
Add -cchi or -tan
Playful endings, common among school friends and online. -cchi is cheerful; -tan is a baby-talk version of -chan.
- Yuki → Yukicchi
- Mayu → Mayu-tan
Join surname and given name
Celebrities are often known by a blend of the first sounds of their family and given names.
- Kimura Takuya → Kimutaku: actor and singer
- Matsumoto Jun → Matsujun: member of the group Arashi
Use the surname
Among classmates and colleagues a shortened surname is common, sometimes with -chan or -kun.
- Yamamoto → Yama-chan
- Takahashi → Taka-chan
Cute Japanese words used as nicknames
Some nicknames are not based on a name at all. These words are common pet names for children, partners and, of course, pets.