ji

Etymology

The origin of the ji honorific is uncertain. One suggestion is that it is a borrowing from an Austroasiatic language such as Sora. Another is that the term means 'soul' or 'life' (similar to the jān suffix) and is derived from Sanskrit.

Variant spellings

jee – Anglicised spelling, common in old publications.

jii – example: Ánandamúrtijii, founder of Ánanda Márga.

jiew – example: Shankari Mai Jiew in Yogananda'sAutobiography of a Yogi.

joo – example: Lakshman Joo of Kashmir.

jiu – example: Radha Raman jiu (Annoyoda Cakraborty) of Bengal.

jiu – example: Radha Raman Jiu temples in Bengal (Radha Raman Ji temples in Uttar Pradesh).

Usage

Ji can mean respect:

With names, e.g. Gandhiji, Nehruji, Sant Ji or Shivji

With inanimate objects of respect, e.g. Gangaji or Kailashji

For groups to whom respect is extended, e.g. Guruji, Panditji, Khalsa Ji

To denote respect in any relation, e.g. Mataji, Baba-ji (respected father), Uncle-ji, Behen-ji (respected sister), Devi-ji (respected madam), Bhabhi-Ji (respected sister-in-law)

In conversation, e.g. "Ji Nahi" (No, said with respect)

In polite conversation, e.g. "Navraj Ji" (Mr. Navraj, similar to how it would be said in Japanese, Navraj-san)

As a shorthand for yes or to denote respectful attention, "Ji"

To reassure that a request has been understood and will be complied with, "Ji Ji"

To respectfully ask for clarification, "Ji?" (with a questioning tone)

In Parsi (Zoroastrian) names, e.g. in Jamsetji Tata, or Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw

Contrast with Sāhab

Sāhab (or sāhib) is always used for an individual, never for an inanimate object or group, though the plural term Sāheban exists as well for more than one person. "Sāhab" is also never used as a shorthand to express agreement, disagreement or ask clarification (whereas "ji" is, such as in Ji, Ji nahi or Ji?). Sometimes, the two terms can be combined to Sāhab Ji to indicate a high degree of respect, roughly equivalent to Respected Sir.

One important exception where sāhab is used for inanimate objects is in connection with Sikh shrines and scripture, e.g. Harmandir Sahib and Guru Granth Sahib.

Contrast with Jān

Jān is also a commonly used suffix in the subcontinent, but it (and the variant, Jānī) denotes endearment rather than respect and, in some contexts, can denote intimacy or even a romantic relationship. Due to these connotations of intimacy, the subcontinental etiquette surrounding Jān is more complex than the usage of the same term in Persian, where it is used somewhat more liberally (though even there, restrictions apply).

As a standalone term, Jān is the rough equivalent of Darling, and is used almost exclusively for close relatives (such as spouses, lovers and children). In this context, sometimes colloquial forms such as Jānoo and Jānaa, or combination words such as Jāneman (my darling) and Jānejaan/Jānejaana (roughly, love of my life), are also used. When used with a name or a relation-term, it means dear. So, bhāi-sāhab and bhāi-ji carry the meaning of respected brother, whereas bhāi-jān or bhaiyya-jānī mean dear brother. The term meri jān, roughly meaning my dear, can be used with friends of the same gender, or in intimate relationships with the opposite gender. In subcontinental etiquette, while bhaijan can be used by males to denote a brotherly relation with any other male of a roughly similar age including total strangers (the female equivalent between women is apajan or didijan), meri jān is used only with friends with whom informality has been established. Ji, on the other hand, is appropriate in all these situations and across genders because it carries no connotations of intimacy.

Popular conflation with the letter 'G'

Because English usage is widespread in the Indian subcontinent, the fact that the honorific Ji is pronounced identically to the letter G is used extensively in puns. This is sometimes deliberately exploited in consumer marketing, such as with the popular "Parle-G Biscuits" (where the 'G' ostensibly stands for Glucose), which sounds like Parle Ji Biscuits (or, the respected Parle biscuits). A pun popular with children in North India and Pakistan consists entirely of English letters - BBG T PO G, which is pronounced very similarly to Bibi-ji, Tea pi-o ji (meaning, respected ma'am, please have some tea). Some people also add an 'A' or 'O' to this pun as a prefix to give effect as if a person is calling the Bibi-ji, in a typical Indian friendly way used in regional slangs. Thus we may also write it as O BBG T PO G. One may even add the answer of Bibi-ji as PKIG, means I just had the tea.

It has been known for a Bengali name ending in -ji to be rendered in Sanskrit as -opadhyay (i.e. -a-upādhyāya with sandhi). "Upādhyāya" is Sanskrit for "teacher".