What Are Prefixes in Japanese? In linguistics, a prefix is a word part attached to the beginning of another word to modify its meaning. The Japanese language uses many prefixes – small units (often single kanji or hiragana like お or ご) placed at the start of words to add politeness, indicate size, negate meaning, or convey other nuances. For example, the word 再利用 (sai-riyō) means “reuse,” where 再 (sai) is a prefix meaning “again/re-” attached to 利用 (riyō, use). Unlike suffixes (such as -san or -chan which come after names), prefixes in Japanese come before the core word. In this article, we’ll explore common Japanese prefixes and their meanings, focusing on modern usage while also mentioning some older prefix forms.

Honorific Prefixes in Japanese (お〜・ご〜)

One of the first prefixes new learners encounter is the honorific prefix. Japanese has special polite prefixes お (o-) and ご (go-) that attach to nouns (and some verbs or adjectives) to show respect or politeness. These Japanese honorific prefixes are written with the kanji 御, which can be pronounced o or go depending on the word.

• お〜 (o- prefix) – Used with native Japanese words (words of Japanese origin, kun-yomi). For example, 茶 (cha, tea) becomes お茶 (o-cha) to politely say “tea,” and 水 (mizu, water) becomes お水 (o-mizu, “water” in a polite way). This Japanese “o” prefix adds a touch of respect or formality. Many everyday terms take o-: お金 (o-kane, money), お名前 (o-namae, name), お寿司 (o-sushi, sushi).
  
• ご〜 (go- prefix) – Used with words of Chinese origin (on-yomi readings). For instance, 飯 (meshi, rice/meal in kun-yomi) has the Chinese reading han, so to say “meal” politely, Japanese uses ご飯 (go-han). Similarly, 家族 (kazoku, family) can be ご家族 (go-kazoku, your family (honorific)). The prefix ご is the same honorific 御 character, just with a different reading appropriate for Sino-Japanese vocabulary.
  

Both お- and ご- mean essentially “honorable” and don’t change the core meaning of the word, but they make the expression polite. You would generally use these when referring to others’ things or in polite speech (e.g. お車 o-kuruma, “(your) car” vs. just kuruma for “car”). For Japanese name prefixes, note that historically it was common to add O- before women’s given names (e.g. calling a woman named Tae as O-Tae) as a polite form in pre-20th-century Japan. This older naming custom has faded – modern Japanese uses suffixes like -san or -chan rather than prefixing O- to someone’s name.

(Side note: There is also a very rare reading “おん” or “み” for 御 in certain archaic or formal words, related to Shinto or imperial usage. For example, 御霊 can be read mitama meaning “honorable spirit.” These are exceptions and not common in everyday modern conversation.)

Common Japanese Prefixes and Their Meanings

Beyond honorifics, Japanese has many common prefixes that attach to nouns, adjectives, or verbs to modify meaning. Below is a Japanese prefix list with meanings and simple examples:

• 最 (sai) – “most”, superlative degree. 最 is like the English “most ~” or “-est”. It creates superlatives. For example, 最高 (saikō) means highest/best, 最悪 (saiaku) means worst, and 最新 (saishin) means newest. If you see 最 at the start of a word, it often indicates the extreme or “most X”. (e.g., 最後 (saigo) “last, final” literally “most late/after”). This prefix is very productive in Japanese for superlative phrases.
  
• 真 (ま / shin) – “true” or “pure/very”. When read as ま (ma) in native Japanese compounds, 真 intensifies the meaning of the word, similar to “ultra-” or “very.” For example, 真っ白 (masshiro) means “pure white” (completely white) and 真っ赤 (makka) means “deep red”. In these, ma- indicates totally/completely. In Sino-Japanese words, 真 is often read as しん (shin) and carries the sense of “true” or “genuine.” For instance, 真実 (shinjitsu) means “truth” (literally “true reality”). What does the prefix shin mean in Japanese? It can mean “true” in some cases, but more commonly 新 (shin) (a different character, see next) means “new.” Don’t confuse 真 (true) with 新 (new) – both are pronounced shin in on-yomi. In summary, 真 as a prefix adds emphasis of real/very, while 新 as a prefix adds the idea of newness.
  
• 新 (shin) – “new”. The prefix 新 means new or latest. It’s used exactly like “new” in English. For example, 新幹線 (Shinkansen) is the “new trunk line” (Japan’s bullet train system), 新年 (shinnen) means “New Year,” and 新型 (shingata) means “new model/type”. If you’re wondering, what does the prefix “shin” mean in Japanese? – when written with this kanji, 新/しん literally means “new”.
  
• 再 (sai) – “re-; again”. This prefix corresponds to “re-” in English, indicating repetition or doing something again. 再 appears in words like 再利用 (sai-riyō, reuse), 再会 (saikai, reunion; meeting again), and 再来週 (saraishū, the week after next, literally “again-next-week”). Whenever you see 再 at the beginning, it suggests again/another time. For instance, 再入国 (sainyūkoku) means “re-entry (into a country)”.
  
• 大 (だい / おお) – “big; great”. The prefix 大 carries the meaning big, large, great, or major. In compounds it’s usually read dai- (on-yomi) or sometimes ō- (oh-) in native reading. Examples: 大問題 (dai-mondai, a big problem), 大成功 (dai-seikō, great success), 大学 (dai-gaku, literally “big learning,” i.e. university). It can also imply importance or magnitude – e.g. 大事 (daiji, important, lit. “big matter”). As a prefix おお- in some words, it can mean “big” in a literal sense (e.g. 大昔 oomukashi, “a great long time ago”). In summary, 大 as a prefix denotes something large, great, or significant.
  
• 小 (しょう / こ) – “small; little”. The prefix 小 means small. In compounds it’s often read shō- or ko-. For example, 小学生 (shōgakusei) means “elementary school student” (literally “small-student”), 小型 (ko-gata) means “small-sized”, and 小麦 (komugi) means “wheat” (literally “small grain”). Whenever you see 小 at the front, it indicates a diminutive or a small scale. For instance, 小国 (shōkoku) means “a small country.”
  
• 超 (ちょう) – “super-; ultra-”. 超 is a modern prefix meaning super, ultra, or hyper- – basically an extreme degree. You’ll see it in words like 超満員 (chō-man’in, super crowded/packed), 超高速 (chō-kōsoku, ultra high-speed), or 超大国 (chō-taikoku, superpower nation). Colloquially, 超 is even used as a slangy prefix meaning “extremely/really” – for example, 超おいしい (chō oishii, “super delicious”). As a Japanese prefix, chō- amps up the intensity, akin to saying “mega-” or “ultra-” in English.
  
• 半 (はん) – “half; semi-”. The prefix 半 means half (like semi-). It’s used with quantities and time. For example, 半分 (hanbun) means “half”, 半年 (han-toshi) means “half a year”, and 半島 (hantō) means “peninsula” (literally “half-island”). 半 basically indicates something is halved or incomplete to 50%. If you say 半額 (hangaku), that’s “half price.”
  
• 全 (ぜん) – “whole; all”. As a prefix, 全 means all, whole, entire. For instance, 全部 (zenbu) means “everything, all of it”, 全国 (zenkoku) means “the whole country,” and 全体 (zentai) means “entire, whole.” It’s like saying “the whole ~” or “pan-” in English. (An interesting example: 全然 (zenzen) originally meant “entirely” and still does in phrases like zenzen daijōbu “entirely okay,” although in colloquial Japanese zenzen is often used with negatives to mean “(not) at all”).
  
• 毎 (まい) – “every”. The prefix 毎 means every ~, indicating regular repetition. You’ll know this from words like 毎日 (mai-nichi, every day), 毎週 (mai-shū, every week), 毎年 (mai-toshi, every year). It attaches to time words or events to indicate each/every instance. 毎回 (mai-kai) means “every time.” So 毎 is equivalent to “every” or “each” in English.
  
• 各 (かく) – “each; respective”. Similar to 毎, the prefix 各 means each or respective. For example, 各国 (kak-koku) means “each country,” 各自 (kakuji) means “each person respectively,” and 各種 (kakushū, various kinds). It denotes individual instances of a group. (This prefix is common, though perhaps a bit beyond absolute beginner level.)
  
• 諸 (しょ) – “various; many”. 諸 is a prefix meaning various or many things. You see it in words like 諸問題 (shomondai, various problems) or 諸外国 (shogaikoku, various foreign countries). It’s akin to saying “various ~”. For instance, 諸島 (shotō) means “archipelago,” literally “various islands.” This prefix tells you the noun is plural or diverse in nature (all kinds of ~).
  
• 不 (ふ) – “un-; not”. 不 is a common negating prefix that conveys “not” or “un-”, similar to in-/un-/im- in English. Attach 不 to the start of a word to flip it to the negative. For example, 不便 (fuben) means “inconvenient” (benri means convenient, add fu- to negate it). 不安 (fuan) means “uneasy” (an means relaxed or safe), 不明 (fumei) means “unknown/unclear” (“not clear”). Essentially, 不 = “not ___”. If someone asks for a Japanese prefix meaning “not”, 不- is a primary candidate.
  
• 無 (む) – “without; -less”. 無 denotes absence or lack, like “no-” or “-less”. It’s used in words such as 無意味 (mu-imi, meaningless – “no meaning”) and 無制限 (mu-seigen, unlimited – “no limit”). 無料 (muryō) means “free of charge” (“no fee”), and 無事 (buji, here mu rendaku to bu, means “safety, no incident”). When you see 無 at the start, it implies an absence of something. Think of it as the counterpart to English prefixes like non- or -less.
  
• 非 (ひ) – “non-; un-”. Another negator, 非 means non- or un-, often used for concepts or states. For example, 非常 (hijō) means “unusual” or “emergency” (literally “non-normal”). 非公式 (hi-kōshiki) means “unofficial”, and 非科学的 (hi-kagakuteki) means “unscientific.” 非 suggests something is not meeting a standard or is outside a category (like hi jinrui, “non-human”). It’s similar to 不 in meaning (“not”), but tends to appear in Sino-Japanese compound words and often has a slightly formal tone.
  
• 反 (はん) – “anti-; opposite”. The prefix 反 corresponds to “anti-” or “opposite”. It conveys opposition or reversal. For instance, 反対 (hantai) means “opposition” or “the opposite”. 反政府 (han-seifu) means “anti-government,” 反作用 (hansayō) means “counter-effect” (opposite effect). So whenever you see 反 prefixed, it implies against or reverse. It’s exactly like English “anti-” (e.g., anti-war = 反戦 han-sen).
  
• 未 (み) – “not yet; un-”. 未 denotes “not yet” or something that hasn’t occurred. Common in words like 未来 (mirai, future – literally “not yet come”), 未定 (mitei, undecided), 未経験 (mi-keiken, inexperienced, “not yet experienced”). 未成年 (miseinen) means “minor” (not yet adult). This prefix suggests something is pending or incomplete in time. It’s similar to saying “un-” or “not yet” (as in unfinished).
  
• 元 (もと) and 旧 (きゅう) – “former; ex-”. These prefixes indicate something from before or former. 元 (moto) literally means “origin” or “former,” and in prefix form it’s like “ex-.” For example, 元首相 (moto-shushō) means “former Prime Minister,” 元彼 (motokare) is “ex-boyfriend,” and 元妻 (moto-tsuma) “ex-wife.” 旧 (kyū) also means “old/previous”, used for institutions or terms that have since changed. For instance, 旧姓 (kyūsei) means “former surname/maiden name,” 旧正月 (kyū-shōgatsu) refers to the old calendar’s New Year. You’ll also see 前 (ぜん) in a similar way, meaning “previous”, often for the immediately preceding holder of a title (e.g. 前大統領 zen-daitōryō, the former/previous president). These prefixes help specify that you’re talking about a prior state or version of something (the equivalent of English “ex-” or “former”). For example, 前会社 (zen-gaisha) “the previous company,” 旧型 (kyū-gata) “old model”.
  

As you can see, Japanese has a rich collection of prefixes. Learning them can greatly expand your vocabulary, since you’ll start recognizing pieces of words. For instance, if you know shippo means tail and you encounter 無尾 (mu-bi), you can deduce it means “tailless” (literally “no-tail”). Many Japanese prefixes and their meanings align with English prefixes (anti-, super-, un-, re-, etc.), which makes them a useful bridge for understanding new words.

Older Prefixes and Historical Usage

In classical and historical Japanese, some prefixes were used in ways that differ from modern usage. We already mentioned the practice of prefixing お- (O-) to women’s names in samurai-era Japan as an honorific. For example, in Edo period stories you might see a heroine called お光 (O-Mitsu) instead of just Mitsu – the O- is a respectful marker. This was common up through the early 20th century, but today you will rarely hear O- in front of given names except in historical dramas. Modern Japanese uses -san, -chan, etc. after the name rather than a prefix.

Another older usage is the prefix 御 (おん/み) in very formal or archaic words. 御 (the same character used for o-/go-) had additional readings historically:

• おん (on-): seen in words like 御前 (on-mae, honorific for “you” in feudal speech) or 御恩 (on-on, favor/grace). For example, samurai might say 御意 (on-i) for “as you wish” (literally “honorable will”). This on- usage is old-fashioned or limited to set phrases now.
  
• み (mi-): used in imperial or poetic contexts. For instance, 御霊 (mitama, sacred spirit) and 御簾 (misu, court bamboo curtain) use mi- as an honorific prefix. Even the word 帝 (mikado, emperor – literally “honorable gate” poetically) includes this prefix. Today, mi- survives in a few formal words (e.g. 御手洗 Mitarashi as a proper noun or shrine term), but it’s not productive in new coinages.
  

Some prefixes have shifted meaning over time. 大 (ō-) in classical Japanese could denote status or grandeur in titles (e.g. Ō-oku “Great Interior” for the shogun’s harem). 奇 (ki-) once prefixed words to mean “strange” (e.g. kikai 奇怪, strange), but this is now just part of compounds rather than a productive prefix. Overall, the older Japanese prefixes mostly revolve around honorifics and archaic readings of characters like 御.

Modern Japanese still contains relics of these older prefix uses in certain words. For example, お嬢さん (ojō-san, young lady) uses o- even though 嬢 is of Chinese origin (a case where the expected go- is overridden by convention). Words like ご主人 (goshujin, husband/master) or お天気 (o-tenki, weather) also show how ingrained the honorific prefix has become in daily language – sometimes simply as part of the word’s fixed form.

Conclusion

Understanding prefixes in Japanese is like having a key to unlock the meaning of many words. A small prefix can tell you a lot: that something is new (新), the best (最), not something (不/無*), super something (超), and so on. We’ve covered a list of Japanese prefixes from the very common honorific **お-/**ご- to those that express size (大／小), repetition (再, 毎), negation (不, 無, 非, 未), degree (最, 真, 超), and more. By learning these Japanese prefixes and their meanings, you can often guess the gist of unfamiliar words and expand your vocabulary quickly.

For beginners, start by noticing prefixes in words you already know – for example, the お in お金 (o-kane) or お箸 (o-hashi), or the ご in ご飯 (go-han). Recognize that “go prefix” in Japanese indicates politeness with certain nouns, and that “o prefix” does similarly for native terms. As you advance, you’ll spot prefixes like shin- for “new” or han- for “anti-” cropping up in newspaper headlines and product names.

By focusing on these building blocks, you will gain a deeper understanding of how Japanese words are formed. Remember, a prefix doesn’t stand alone – it’s always attached to another word – but its presence is a big clue to meaning. Keep this guide handy as a reference, and soon you’ll be breaking down complex Japanese terms with ease using your knowledge of prefixes. Happy learning!