<p><strong>&quot;-P&quot; is a suffix</strong> that a person can attach to the end of someone's name <strong>to indicate closeness, familiarity, and affection</strong>. These suffixes are all called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">&quot;honorifics&quot; in English</a> but are called 「呼び方」 (<em>yobikata</em>) (or far less commonly, 「呼ばせ方」 [<em>yobasekata</em>]), which mean &quot;how to call (someone/something)&quot; in Japanese. &quot;-P&quot; is one of the examples like the far more common &quot;-<em>chan</em>&quot; that do not signify respect and honor (like the standard &quot;-<em>san</em>&quot; or the more formal &quot;-<em>sama</em>&quot;), so these affectionate suffix kinds of <em>yobikata</em> are called 「愛称」(<em>aisho</em>), which means &quot;affectionate nickname.&quot; (In Japanese, these suffixes are not attached with a dash; the name runs right into the suffix like 「美奈P」[MinaP] or Makoto's「まこちゃん」[Makochan]. The dash when writing in romaji sets off a suffix from a name for non-native Japanese language learners to be able to identify where the name or abbreviated nickname ends and the suffix begins.)</p>
<p>Japanese people use <em>yobikata</em> almost all the time to everyone they know, from family members up to the highest elite person (a person trying to be cutesy can even attach one to his/her own name, which Minako does in certain moments). To avoid attaching a suffix to someone's name is to do 「呼び捨て」(<em>yobisute</em>), meaning to &quot;throw out how-to-call-someone,&quot; and should only be done through consent by both parties and indicates a high level of closeness or conveys a lack of respect (for example, the times when Rei calls Usagi without a suffix, or when Usagi calls Chibi-usa without a suffix).</p>
<p>Characters usually use <em>yobikata</em> for each other, most of the cases are the common &quot;-<em>chan</em>,&quot; (Usagi-<em>chan</em>, Ami-<em>chan</em>, Rei-<em>chan</em>, Mako-<em>chan</em>, Minako-<em>chan</em>, Mamo-<em>chan</em>, Chibi-usa-<em>chan</em>, etc.) and are sometimes used for the sailor <em>senshi</em> forms (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%84%9B%E9%87%8E%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%88%E5%AD%90#%E4%BA%BA%E7%89%A9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">V-<em>chan</em></a>, Venus-<em>chan</em>, etc.). &quot;-P&quot; is a rather uncommon suffix in Japanese culture; I have lived in Japan for years and never heard someone use it (though, admittedly, I don't spend time at Japanese high schools). In contrast, &quot;-<em>chan</em>&quot; is everywhere in society.</p>
<p>It should be noted that this &quot;-P&quot; suffix is <strong>a wholly different &quot;-P&quot; suffix</strong> than the <a href="https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/65401/what-does-the-letter-p-at-the-end-of-an-authors-pseudonym-mean">&quot;-P&quot; suffix used to abbreviate the word 「プロデューサー」(<em>purodyuusaa</em> = producer)</a> in arenas such as the vocaloid industry. In <em>Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon</em>, <a href="https://wikimoon.org/index.php/Sailor_Iron_Mouse" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the civilian disguise form of Sailor Iron Mouse, Nezu Chuuko</a>, who works for <em>Ginga Terebi</em> (Galaxy TV), is called &quot;Nezu-<em>purodyuusaa</em>,&quot; never called &quot;Nezu-P.&quot;</p>
<p>As you note, the only two within the series to receive the &quot;-P&quot; suffix are Minako and Luna-P. <strong>One reason for each case overlap, but there are two points of difference.</strong></p>
<p>When Sailor V(enus) first appears, she is a <strong>mysterious, unknown, admired enigma</strong> to Usagi and the other others. However, over time, they get to know Minako. While Usagi loves all of her friends deeply, she comes to feel <strong>a particularly special bond</strong> with Minako because she <strong>views Minako as more like herself than the others</strong>. (In the early manga and anime, in what ways Minako is more similar to Usagi than Makoto is to Usagi or than Rei is to Usagi is not so clear but, as the series goes along, they are portrayed as a kind of kindred combo. This <strong>kindred affinity</strong> is portrayed in the anime as well [for example, chasing after Haruka-<em>san</em> or lamenting failing a class], but in the anime the Usagi-and-Rei relationship is portrayed more centrally.) Because Usagi feels a more special bond with Minako, she calls her <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%84%9B%E9%87%8E%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%88%E5%AD%90#%E4%BA%BA%E7%89%A9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">&quot;Mina-P,&quot;</a> a suffix she doesn't use for anyone else.</p>
<p>As this <a href="http://pgsmoon.blog.fc2.com/blog-date-20150916.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sailor Moon blogger</a> explains,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>うさぎちゃんの「美奈P」の呼び方が一番好きです。
うさぎちゃんと美奈子ちゃんの仲良しっぷりが感じられて。
このお互いの名前の呼び方って人間関係や、本人の性格が出ているようで
大切なポイントだと私は思ってます。たまに変わったりするけども (ﾟAﾟ;)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Translated: &quot;What I love the most is how Usagi calls Minako 'Mina-P.' You can feel how close of friends they are. What they call each other is an important point that shows human relationships and their personalities. Though they change it up once in a while. (ﾟAﾟ;)&quot; [translation mine]</p>
<p>In contrast, the suffix serves <strong>three purposes</strong> for <a href="https://sailormoon.fandom.com/wiki/Luna-P" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Luna-P, Chibi-usa's cat face ball device</a>.</p>
<p>One reason is the same: to demonstrate that <a href="https://wikimoon.org/index.php/Luna_P" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chibi-usa considers this device her <strong>close friend</strong></a>.</p>
<p>Secondly, the &quot;-P&quot; suffix in Luna-P's name is <strong>onomatopoeia</strong>, (in Japanese, 「擬音語」[<em>giongo</em>]). 「ピ」(<em>pi</em>) or, usually in repetition, such as<a href="https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/manga-sound-effect-guide" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「ピピピピピ」(<em>pipipipipi</em>), is a Japanese sound effect that means &quot;beep beep beep.&quot;</a> This sound effect often appears in the manga, and Luna-P itself only ever communicates in <strong>beeps</strong> rather than words (excluding transmitting voice chat between Chibi-usa and Puu). Luna-P is a beeping device, so the sound of the pronounced &quot;-P&quot; suffix here additionally conveys the electronic nature of the item.</p>
<p>Thirdly, other characters adopt calling this device &quot;Luna-P&quot; even though they do <strong>not feel that personal affection</strong> toward it, most likely because to speak of it with <em>yobisute</em> would simply be to say the name &quot;Luna&quot; - the name of a different prominent character who is always referred to and addressed with <em>yobisute</em> - and thereby <strong>possibly confusing</strong>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-17T01:11:54.813Z
No, the suffixes are not called 「呼び方」. They are [「敬称」](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%95%AC%E7%A7%B0). 呼び方is the thing or the entirety of the name you use to address another person. In other words, if student A calls the teacher 岡村先生, while student B calls the same teacher しおりちゃん, these are different 呼び方 of the same person, while 先生 and ちゃん are 敬称/愛称.
Eddie Kal
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-18T03:51:14.200Z
@Eddie Kal Thanks for adding the word 「敬称」. Since Japanese language learners often say "honorifics" whereas the average Japanese person doesn't say 「敬称」, I presented the word 「呼び方」. Just as the fan I quoted used 「「美奈P」の呼び方」, the combined form (entirety) is the standard way Japanese people talk about it rather than 「「P」の敬称」. In an NPO I volunteer with, we usually use last name+さん but someone raised the question of which 呼び方 we should use in our upcoming community event so we decided to have everyone go by first name+さん so it will feel cozy. I can't imagine someone asking which 敬称 we should use.
seijitsu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-18T20:23:00.733Z
I can totally see where you are coming from and I also 100% agree with your point that "honorifics" is often a misnomer in these contexts. And your answer is very informative and well written. (I should've said that at the outset. Sorry.) The only minor issue I saw that I was nitpicking on was 呼び方. Technically and factually, 呼び捨て is also a 呼び方. I agree 敬称 is not talked about a lot in everyday conversation and it is a word which has a strong 書き言葉 ring to it and whose occurrences are mainly found in formal/semi-formal settings.
Eddie Kal
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-18T20:28:11.773Z
Some examples of 「敬称」 in ordinary, everyday contexts: [男女の敬称について  最近、小学校では「○○君や○○さん」を統一し、男女を問わずに「○○さん」にしているところもあると聞きます。これは、男女平等社会の実現に向けての動きなのでしょうか。](https://oshiete.goo.ne.jp/qa/9053566.html)  [敬称でなんとなく思ったんですが](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q11213978661)
Eddie Kal
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-16T22:22:11.437Z
2020-10-16T22:43:26.653Z
2020-10-16T22:43:26.653Z
seijitsu
<p>In the Kodansha translation of the manga, I noticed some of the characters, primarily Usagi and Chibi-Usa, I believe, call Minako Aino by the name Mina-P. It seems to be an abbreviation of her name, but I'm not sure where the P comes from, and I don't recall this name ever being explained. Is there an explanation?</p>
<p>For example, I see this name used twice in <em>Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Short Stories</em> Volume 1, once on page 69 by Chibi-Usa in the story <em>&quot;Chibi-Usa's Picture Diary&quot; Chapter 3 Beware of Cavities</em>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Aaaargh! Papaaa, Usagiiiii!! I don't wanna die here!! Mina-P! Luna-P! Diana!!</p>
</blockquote>
<p>and once by Usagi on page 135 in the story <em>&quot;Exam Battle Shorts&quot; Chapter 3 Rei's and Minako's Girls School Battle?</em>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Hey, hey, Mina-P, there's a late-night show on that's real good. Let's watch it tonight!</p>
</blockquote>

<sailor-moon>
Why do Usagi and Chibi-Usa call Minako Mina-P?
# Why do Usagi and Chibi-Usa call Minako Mina-P?
Posted by: username_0 on 2020-10-15
In the Kodansha translation of the manga, I noticed some of the characters, primarily Usagi and Chibi-Usa, I believe, call Minako Aino by the name Mina-P. It seems to be an abbreviation of her name, but I'm not sure where the P comes from, and I don't recall this name ever being explained. Is there an explanation?

For example, I see this name used twice in *Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Short Stories* Volume 1, once on page 69 by Chibi-Usa in the story *"Chibi-Usa's Picture Diary" Chapter 3 Beware of Cavities*:

> Aaaargh! Papaaa, Usagiiiii!! I don't wanna die here!! Mina-P! Luna-P! Diana!!

and once by Usagi on page 135 in the story *"Exam Battle Shorts" Chapter 3 Rei's and Minako's Girls School Battle?*:

> Hey, hey, Mina-P, there's a late-night show on that's real good. Let's watch it tonight!
**Tags:** sailor-moon
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2020-10-16. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
**"-P" is a suffix** that a person can attach to the end of someone's name **to indicate closeness, familiarity, and affection**. These suffixes are all called ["honorifics" in English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics) but are called 「呼び方」 (*yobikata*) (or far less commonly, 「呼ばせ方」 [*yobasekata*]), which mean "how to call (someone/something)" in Japanese. "-P" is one of the examples like the far more common "-*chan*" that do not signify respect and honor (like the standard "-*san*" or the more formal "-*sama*"), so these affectionate suffix kinds of *yobikata* are called 「愛称」(*aisho*), which means "affectionate nickname." (In Japanese, these suffixes are not attached with a dash; the name runs right into the suffix like 「美奈P」[MinaP] or Makoto's「まこちゃん」[Makochan]. The dash when writing in romaji sets off a suffix from a name for non-native Japanese language learners to be able to identify where the name or abbreviated nickname ends and the suffix begins.)

Japanese people use *yobikata* almost all the time to everyone they know, from family members up to the highest elite person (a person trying to be cutesy can even attach one to his/her own name, which Minako does in certain moments). To avoid attaching a suffix to someone's name is to do 「呼び捨て」(*yobisute*), meaning to "throw out how-to-call-someone," and should only be done through consent by both parties and indicates a high level of closeness or conveys a lack of respect (for example, the times when Rei calls Usagi without a suffix, or when Usagi calls Chibi-usa without a suffix).

Characters usually use *yobikata* for each other, most of the cases are the common "-*chan*," (Usagi-*chan*, Ami-*chan*, Rei-*chan*, Mako-*chan*, Minako-*chan*, Mamo-*chan*, Chibi-usa-*chan*, etc.) and are sometimes used for the sailor *senshi* forms ([V-*chan*](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%84%9B%E9%87%8E%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%88%E5%AD%90#%E4%BA%BA%E7%89%A9), Venus-*chan*, etc.). "-P" is a rather uncommon suffix in Japanese culture; I have lived in Japan for years and never heard someone use it (though, admittedly, I don't spend time at Japanese high schools). In contrast, "-*chan*" is everywhere in society.

It should be noted that this "-P" suffix is **a wholly different "-P" suffix** than the ["-P" suffix used to abbreviate the word 「プロデューサー」(*purodyuusaa* = producer)](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/65401/what-does-the-letter-p-at-the-end-of-an-authors-pseudonym-mean) in arenas such as the vocaloid industry. In *Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon*, [the civilian disguise form of Sailor Iron Mouse, Nezu Chuuko](https://wikimoon.org/index.php/Sailor_Iron_Mouse), who works for *Ginga Terebi* (Galaxy TV), is called "Nezu-*purodyuusaa*," never called "Nezu-P."

As you note, the only two within the series to receive the "-P" suffix are Minako and Luna-P. **One reason for each case overlap, but there are two points of difference.**

When Sailor V(enus) first appears, she is a **mysterious, unknown, admired enigma** to Usagi and the other others. However, over time, they get to know Minako. While Usagi loves all of her friends deeply, she comes to feel **a particularly special bond** with Minako because she **views Minako as more like herself than the others**. (In the early manga and anime, in what ways Minako is more similar to Usagi than Makoto is to Usagi or than Rei is to Usagi is not so clear but, as the series goes along, they are portrayed as a kind of kindred combo. This **kindred affinity** is portrayed in the anime as well [for example, chasing after Haruka-*san* or lamenting failing a class], but in the anime the Usagi-and-Rei relationship is portrayed more centrally.) Because Usagi feels a more special bond with Minako, she calls her ["Mina-P,"](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%84%9B%E9%87%8E%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%88%E5%AD%90#%E4%BA%BA%E7%89%A9) a suffix she doesn't use for anyone else.

As this [Sailor Moon blogger](http://pgsmoon.blog.fc2.com/blog-date-20150916.html) explains,

> うさぎちゃんの「美奈P」の呼び方が一番好きです。
> うさぎちゃんと美奈子ちゃんの仲良しっぷりが感じられて。
> このお互いの名前の呼び方って人間関係や、本人の性格が出ているようで
> 大切なポイントだと私は思ってます。たまに変わったりするけども (ﾟAﾟ;)

Translated: "What I love the most is how Usagi calls Minako 'Mina-P.' You can feel how close of friends they are. What they call each other is an important point that shows human relationships and their personalities. Though they change it up once in a while. (ﾟAﾟ;)" [translation mine]

In contrast, the suffix serves **three purposes** for [Luna-P, Chibi-usa's cat face ball device](https://sailormoon.fandom.com/wiki/Luna-P).

One reason is the same: to demonstrate that [Chibi-usa considers this device her **close friend**](https://wikimoon.org/index.php/Luna_P).

Secondly, the "-P" suffix in Luna-P's name is **onomatopoeia**, (in Japanese, 「擬音語」[*giongo*]). 「ピ」(*pi*) or, usually in repetition, such as[「ピピピピピ」(*pipipipipi*), is a Japanese sound effect that means "beep beep beep."](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/manga-sound-effect-guide) This sound effect often appears in the manga, and Luna-P itself only ever communicates in **beeps** rather than words (excluding transmitting voice chat between Chibi-usa and Puu). Luna-P is a beeping device, so the sound of the pronounced "-P" suffix here additionally conveys the electronic nature of the item.

Thirdly, other characters adopt calling this device "Luna-P" even though they do **not feel that personal affection** toward it, most likely because to speak of it with *yobisute* would simply be to say the name "Luna" - the name of a different prominent character who is always referred to and addressed with *yobisute* - and thereby **possibly confusing**.
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2020-10-17): No, the suffixes are not called 「呼び方」. They are [「敬称」](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%95%AC%E7%A7%B0). 呼び方is the thing or the entirety of the name you use to address another person. In other words, if student A calls the teacher 岡村先生, while student B calls the same teacher しおりちゃん, these are different 呼び方 of the same person, while 先生 and ちゃん are 敬称/愛称.  
> **username_1** (2020-10-18): @Eddie Kal Thanks for adding the word 「敬称」. Since Japanese language learners often say "honorifics" whereas the average Japanese person doesn't say 「敬称」, I presented the word 「呼び方」. Just as the fan I quoted used 「「美奈P」の呼び方」, the combined form (entirety) is the standard way Japanese people talk about it rather than 「「P」の敬称」. In an NPO I volunteer with, we usually use last name+さん but someone raised the question of which 呼び方 we should use in our upcoming community event so we decided to have everyone go by first name+さん so it will feel cozy. I can't imagine someone asking which 敬称 we should use.  
> **username_2** (2020-10-18): I can totally see where you are coming from and I also 100% agree with your point that "honorifics" is often a misnomer in these contexts. And your answer is very informative and well written. (I should've said that at the outset. Sorry.) The only minor issue I saw that I was nitpicking on was 呼び方. Technically and factually, 呼び捨て is also a 呼び方. I agree 敬称 is not talked about a lot in everyday conversation and it is a word which has a strong 書き言葉 ring to it and whose occurrences are mainly found in formal/semi-formal settings.  
> **username_2** (2020-10-18): Some examples of 「敬称」 in ordinary, everyday contexts: [男女の敬称について  最近、小学校では「○○君や○○さん」を統一し、男女を問わずに「○○さん」にしているところもあると聞きます。これは、男女平等社会の実現に向けての動きなのでしょうか。](https://oshiete.goo.ne.jp/qa/9053566.html)  [敬称でなんとなく思ったんですが](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q11213978661)  
---
