Although these honorific prefixes are often translated into English as "honorable" ("o-denwa," for example, would be given as "the honorable telephone") this translation is unwieldy and cannot convey the true feeling of their use in Japanese. These prefixes are essentially untranslatable, but their use indicates a polite respect for the item named or the person to or about whom one is speaking. A shorter translation is "dear"—for example, "o-ko-san", お子さん, translates idiomatically as "your dear child"—and a similar sentiment is expressed in such English expressions as "Would you " care for a spot of" tea?" or "Would you "care for a little" tea?" (as opposed to the plain "Would you "like some" tea?").