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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!


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sailor-moon
Why do Usagi and Chibi-Usa call Minako Mina-P?


**" -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**.


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