The Japanese honorific "sama" (様, さま) is a highly respectful and formal suffix used to address or refer to individuals of a higher rank or status than oneself. It conveys great respect and is often used for customers, guests, divine entities, or people one greatly admires. For example, deities like Shinto kami are called "kami-sama," meaning "revered spirit" with the suffix indicating respect

. "Sama" is more respectful than the common honorific "san" and is often used in business or formal correspondence, including letters and postal services, where the addressee is regarded as a customer or someone deserving utmost respect

. It is also used in polite set phrases such as "gochisō sama" (thank you for the meal) and "otsukare sama" (thank you for your hard work)

. While "san" is a general, gender-neutral honorific roughly equivalent to Mr./Ms., "sama" is closer to English terms like "Sir" or "Madam," emphasizing a higher level of deference

. It can also be used ironically or humorously when referring to oneself with exaggerated arrogance, as in "ore-sama" (俺様), meaning "my esteemed self"

. Historically, the use of "sama" also had a nuance of indirectness and respect related to social hierarchy and beliefs about the power of names, making it inappropriate to call someone simply by their name without an honorific

. In summary, "sama" is a formal, respectful honorific in Japanese used to show great respect to someone of higher status, customers, or revered figures, and is an elevated form of the more common "san"