Is the term さん also used on envelopes when sending a letter?


I know that the term is used on the letter being written, but I'm not sure if
it is required to use it on the envelope. Thank you.




You cannot use さん on envelopes. Just as you have to use Mr./Ms./etc on English
envelopes no matter how you normally call them, you have to use 様 on Japanese
envelopes. 様 is a more polite name suffix than さん. 先生 is also okay if you
usually call them _sensei_ (a teacher, lawyer, etc.). If you send a letter or
a card to a kindergartner, くん/ちゃん is also acceptable.

Inside the envelope you can call them however way you think is suitable.

様 is for a person. You have to use 御中 instead of 様 when you send a mail to an
organization. See: [How to address someone in an email who referred to
themselves as part of a
department](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/42452/5010)




You cannot use さん on envelopes. Just as you have to use Mr./Ms./etc on English
envelopes no matter how you normally call them, you have to use 様 on Japanese
envelopes. 様 is a more polite name suffix than さん. 先生 is also okay if you
usually call them _sensei_ (a teacher, lawyer, etc.). If you send a letter or
a card to a kindergartner, くん/ちゃん is also acceptable.

Inside the envelope you can call them however way you think is suitable.

様 is for a person. You have to use 御中 instead of 様 when you send a mail to an
organization. See: [How to address someone in an email who referred to
themselves as part of a
department](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/42452/5010)

