why do japanese say san

Japanese say "san" (さん) as an honorific suffix attached to a person's name to show respect and politeness. It is roughly equivalent to "Mr.," "Ms.," or "Mrs." in English and is used universally among equals regardless of gender. "San" is the most common honorific in Japan and is used in formal and informal contexts to indicate respect when addressing or referring to others, especially for people who are acquaintances, colleagues, or strangers. It can also be attached to some common nouns and company names as a form of respect. In Japanese culture, using "san" is a way to maintain social harmony and politeness and avoid offending others. It is also used to convey respect even in close relationships, as an expression of courtesy among friends and adults. There are other honorifics like "sama" for higher respect, "kun" for younger males or juniors, and "chan" for children or affectionate informal use, but "san" is the default polite and respectful suffix for most people.