Son... kun?

[Alias]

Throughout the entire DragonBall series, Bulma refers to Goku as "Son-kun." She's the only person to use this with him, only rarely referring to him as Goku. I had always assumed that it was meant affectionately - as though he was a little brother. Now, I beginning to doubt that. I'm taking Japanese in college, and my teacher, of whom is Japanese herself, got into a discussion during break with a classmate of mine. He asked her about the usage of -kun with adult friends, and she responded that they don't use -kun. She said that if you use that with a friend, that you're telling them that you're better than they are, that you're their superior. He asked her again about it, and whether there were exceptions to that, and she repeated very firmly that if you use it to a friend, that you're reminding them that you're above them. That got me to thinking about Goku's relationship with Bulma. The usage above follows perfectly with the way Bulma often treats Goku, especially early in the series, and Bulma is often shown as arrogant and spoiled. Even if she may have become fond of him later, I found it interesting that the root of the name may have been in her contempt of him.

Any thoughts?

[B-kun]

Maybe the name "Son-kun" just eventually became her sorta petname for him. Migh've been a misuse of the suffix, but meh. Kinda like Piccolo calling Goku "Son" for most of the series, until he eventually just called him Goku.

[Ryu]

Didn't Videl call Gohan "Son-Kun" as well? I don't think Videl looks down at Gohan or does she?

[Xyex]

*clears throat*

It should be first pointed out that the use of these suffixes in anime and manga is not highly consistent with the actual use in Japan.
They give an indication between the speaker and the person they are talking to/about. In order of relative social position they go -chan then -kun (both used if the speaker is higher or on the same level as the subject), -san generally between semi-equals/strangers or when nothing else suits well (equal to Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms), -dono indicates some respect, and -sama even more - for example God (kami) is referred to as kami-sama.
The choice of which suffix to use depends on the speaker's character (normal polite, rude, very polite), their attitude to the listener (normal politeness, respectful, humble, abusive, addressing down), their positions in society and in what situation they are talking in (one to one, among close friends, among colleagues, among strangers, public).
Also, certain suffixes are common in a particular relationship (for example, boys often address their girlfriends with -chan), so the speaker may use the more generic -san instead to avoid confusion. For example, Ryöga address Akane as 'Akane-san' because the only other one that could be used politely is -chan, but only if they were very close.
Teenage boys are often referred to with -kun by their peers/social superiors. Girls may sometimes to referred to with -kun, but only by their social superiors - Kunö and Genma use -kun when talking to/about Akane. Between those with a close/intimate relationship, -chan is often used, eg Akane to her sisters, parents may use it to their children (or no suffix at all), between one female friend and another, by an adult to a girl and by boys to their girlfriend.

-kun is the male diminuitive. It's used for boys who are too old for "-chan" (many boys will contest the use of the latter ;p); for male classmates; from a superior to their direct charges (teachers to students, boss to employee) regardless of gender; or between guy friends. While it's appropriate to use "-chan" for adult female friends, "-kun" is used less frequently for adult males.

Yeah, I write so much Fanfiction on Japanese related stuffs that, well, I've found a few nice places that explain this stuff pretty well.

[Alias]

Didn't Videl call Gohan "Son-Kun" as well? I don't think Videl looks down at Gohan or does she?

I don't recall her referring to him as Son-kun, but she does refer to him as Gohan-kun. She may not look down on him, but Bulma clearly does look down on Goku for much of the series. Bulma was only interested in conning Goku out of his Dragon Ball and using him as a bodyguard, so I don't think she meant the reference to be a friendly one.

Xyex,
I know that there's a lot of leeway in usage of suffixes in anime and among younger people. My point was mostly in reference to the Goku/Bulma part of it. I don't think that Bulma, when she first used it, meant it affectionately. It may have become that over the course of time, but I don't think that it began that way.

[Jerseymilk]

I agree with Alias' point. Buruma really treated Goku more like almost a servant when they first met and did look down on him. Yes, as years went by her opinion of him changed and I think the name just stuck as almost a "nickname" of sorts she had for him. There's no question in my mind at first however, that it was more of an insulting reference.

[Mochi]

Wait, Goten always calls Trunks "Trunks-kun", so Goten's saying he's better than Trunks? I'm conufsed. O__o

[Jerseymilk]

In the case of Trunks and Goten Mochi, they are using it to refer to one another in an affectionate way in that they are friends around the same age.^_^

[Mochi]

Oh ok! Awww.... they're so cute!!!!!! ^.^

[Dayspring]

So's your Goten in pyjamas avatar.

[Mochi]

So's your Goten in pyjamas avatar.

Thank you! ^.^

[Jodaku]

Didn't Videl call Gohan "Son-Kun" as well? I don't think Videl looks down at Gohan or does she?

I actually think in Gohan and Videl's case, it's similar to Goku and Bulma, but to a much lesser extent.

I mean, while Videl is the daughter of Mr Satan, perhaps one of the richist in world and probably lives in a huge mansion, she meets Gohan, who's from a rural part of the world, who lives in a small simple house, and is simply living on winnings from Budokai's. I think just like Bulma, Videl looks down at Gohan at first but eventually calling him Gohan-Kun turns into more of an affectionate term.

Now, one I'm not too sure of is Bulma calling Gohan Gohan-Kun, is it she simply passed down the term from father to son, or is more of an affectionate term (ala Goten and Trunks), being the son of her oldest friend and all?

[B-kun]

Didn't Videl call Gohan "Son-Kun" as well? I don't think Videl looks down at Gohan or does she?

I actually think in Gohan and Videl's case, it's similar to Goku and Bulma, but to a much lesser extent.

I mean, while Videl is the daughter of Mr Satan, perhaps one of the richist in world and probably lives in a huge mansion, she meets Gohan, who's from a rural part of the world, who lives in a small simple house, and is simply living on winnings from Budokai's. I think just like Bulma, Videl looks down at Gohan at first but eventually calling him Gohan-Kun turns into more of an affectionate term.

Now, one I'm not too sure of is Bulma calling Gohan Gohan-Kun, is it she simply passed down the term from father to son, or is more of an affectionate term (ala Goten and Trunks), being the son of her oldest friend and all?

Well, Chi-Chi already calls her son "Gohan-chan". Maybe it would've been repetitive if two women around the same age range called him that? Like everyone calling Usagi "Usagi-chan" in Sailor Moon. @_@

[Son ChiChi]

[subject), -san generally between semi-equals/strangers or when nothing else suits well (equal to Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms), -dono indicates some respect, and -sama even more - for example God (kami) is referred to as kami-sama.

So, ChiChi calling Goku "Goku-sa" is short for Goku-san. I always wondered what that meant.

[Zackarotto]

Hmm. You're fairly new, but you're doing what we call necroposting. Reviving old topics with new posts. Not allowed. Don't do it again, okay?

[SpaceKappa]

While we're on the subject, my Xbox Live gamertag is "Son Kun," and so far NO ONE has managed to pronounce it correctly. Someone even thought it was the name of a sports drink. -_-;;