Name Enders

[Useless]

Yeah, this may be strange to ask, considering this is an anime message board, and almost everyone has knowledge of Japanese culture, but anyways....

I get a little confused about the name enders. For one thing, how many are there that are still used today? Plus when is the proper situation to use them. For example, I know that "-sama" and "-san" are usually used to call someone that you highly respect, but when do you use which one?

So anyone willing to give a cultural lesson to the confused and uninformed?

[resurie]

Let's see...

-chan: Used mostly to reflect affection. Usually added to the end of a girl's name or something small (Ex. 'Kero-chan')

-kun: Added to the end of a boy's name or a fellow employee. Like a co-worker.

-san: Used to show respect for a person.

-sama: Used to show great respect for a person. Like a ruler or something.

-sensei: Pretty obvious, added at the end of someone who is teaching you.

-dono: This was used in the old days, it's somewhat like san/sama I believe. Used to show respect.

I don't know if there's any more. All of those are still used today I believe, except for -dono.

[Drave]

Huh, honorifics. Yeah, they are still used today (I think), and there are a few :3. I'm no expert, so you can probably get a better idea from somebody else, but this is what I've picked up from which and whatever series (the best way to learn would probably be to ask somebody who speaks the language themselves...in other words, don't bash me over the head if I get something wrong XDD):

Tacking on th -san suffix is kind of like adding a 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.' in the English language. It's kind of formal to be using around friends, so it's mostly used when you talk to somebody you don't know, or someone like an upperclassman.

-sama: more honorable that -san. Used for somebody much higher in status than you. But it's not used as much in regular conversation, or so I've read.

-chan: Female diminutive. Used for little kids (especially girls), but some girls use it later in life to be cute. Sounds cutesy to me, anyway.

-kun: Hmm. This can go either way, but I think it's USUALLY used for males. Girls would probably add this on to the ends of their male peers/classmates names. Or someone who's higher status than a boy would probably call them 'whatever-kun.' Think teachers may use it for their students, too.

-sensei: Pretty much reserved for teachers, of any sort. My kid brother's in karate, so the members of his class call the instructor 'Sensei'.

Erm. There are more that I won't go into (since I know less about them). But you know, this covers most bases, I think.

[Lovely]

It should also be pointed out that not using a name ender at all normally shows a great deal of familiarity... or you're just being rude ^^;.

It should be noted that Yoh and Anna (Shaman King) hardly EVER use name enders. In Yoh's case, he's just being his laid back goofy self. (But it can sometimes come off as rude.)
In Anna's case... she's just being imposing (though she does call Manta, "Manta-kun" about ONCE in the series when she's complimenting him.)

Shaman King has a bunch more examples of proper and intentionally improper uses of name enders. It's pretty fun actually ^^ .

resurie said:

-kun: Added to the end of a boy's name or a fellow employee. Like a co-worker.

Actually,it should be pointed out in the adult work place only an older employee of higher rank would refer to the youngin's as "-kun".

Oh yeah, I'll add one that I haven't seen yet.

"Senpai"- your senior in a school setting.

So, for example, lets say I was in 12th grade and Res was in 11th. To Res, I would be Lovely-senpai.

[MetaKnight]

Hmm...

I just looked some up on Wikipedia.org and I found some that might help.

-han: basically it's -san, only it's used in the Kansai district.

-kun: also is used in businesses by male superiors to address female workers. Never used for one's own kids, unless you want to give people the impression that you spoil them.

-chan: when used with your own name, it makes you sound self-centered. Once again, never mentioned for one's own kids, unless you want people to think that you spoil them.

-kohai: a title older students use when addressing younger students. (e.g. I'm in 12th grade and you're in 10th grade, I would address you as X-kohai)

-sensei: any authority figure, such as teachers, manga artists, lawyers, doctors, etc. (Mokona Apapa would be Mokona-sensei)

-hikoku: a title that the media uses to refer to people who are criminals (e.g Whitey Bulger would be Bulger-hikoku).

-dono: this one actually means lord or lady (Kaoru-dono, Lady Kaoru; Sesshomaru-dono, Lord Sesshomaru).

Hope this helps

[Throes]

Well, as far as I know, with the whole "-san" issue, it's kind of like saying "Mr." in english. Honorifics are usually used to show formality. However, there are some honorifics that you probably wouldn't use formally. If someone asks you to not say the honorifics, then they are probably comfortable with you being very in-formal with them...

[Kyone]

Yeah, -san is usually used with people you're just meeting. The -chan suffix is most common with fanpeople/friends. Apparently, it's commonly used for young girls as well. Or so I've heard.