Name suffixes

[slehner]

I'm new to the Japanese language and I've seen a few suffixes used with names before but I do not know how to use them or understand the usage of them.

I am familiar with "san" and and "sensei" and their basic use but the ones I'm curious about I'll list below. I know its quite a list but I'm mostly looking for an understanding of what they mean and how they relate to ones name and the relationship it might place between that person and the one using it.

-tan
-chan
-kun
-senpai
-kōhai
-shi
-sama

[Psy]

Here's how I understand it:

-tan
This I think is geek-speak. The only time I've heard it is the anime/pasokon otaku subcultures.

-chan
Very common for younger girls/females close within your social circle that are younger than you. I've seen it used with boys too in really familiar situations.

-kun
For boys. Sort of like the yang to -chan's yin. Bosses will use it a lot for their inferiors as well.

-senpai / -kōhai
Mentor & Pupil. Sempai is typically someone a year ahead in school, filling sort of a "big brother" social role for kouhai.

-shi
This is often "Mr," and you'll see on the news and in papers. It's used to denote a name without applying any particular sort of respect to it, while at the same time avoiding disrespect by having no suffix.

-sama
This is a very polite suffix, indicating a great deal of distance between the speaker and listener (for instance, a salesperson addressing a customer will use -sama). It is also used as a form of address in letters and the like.

That's the breakdown. I'm sure others will provide more detail later.

[zakojanai]

Psy's explanation is right on. I would also add that for "kun," when bosses use it for their inferiors, it can be used with women as well.

"Shi" is often used when speaking about politicians, in a manner that Rep. might be used in the states. So Rep. Ozawa might be Ozawa-shi in the newspapers. However, if Ozawa became Prime Minister, he'd be referred to by his title (Ozawa-shushou). Before becoming president, Obama was usually referred to as Obama-shi in the news. Shi is especially common in newscasts and newspapers.

Tan (along with chama) is a children's mispronunciation of chan. It is pretty feminine, so if you're a guy be careful using it. (Though apparently it might be acceptable in otaku circles.)

~pi/ppi is sometimes attached to shortened versions of people's names as a term of affection. (Burappi for Brad Pitt being one of the most famous common examples.)

And while senpai and kouhai are most commonly used in upper/underclassmen relationships it is also sometimes used in companies when one person entered the company before the other. Also, you wouldn't address someone by calling them kouhai. It's really only used with a third party to describe a relationship.

[slehner]

Well being a geek by US standards that explains why I've seen some of these in use.

I do want to point out the use of "tan" is one of my more recent encounters and it came from a Japanese RPG video game. This was being used on a high school level and in this example a male student was referring to a female student who's name was Yukari and was shortened to Yuka-tan by the male student.

Is that supposed to be like some type of cute suffix used by like a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship?

So if I understand senpai correctly its used in schools to refer to upper class mates especially ones that fill a sort of big brother or big sister role, and in the working world you could use it among co-workers to refer to someone that has been their longer than you.

Like for example you could be talking to a co-worker that started after you did and in answering his/her question you could mention that our senpai might be able to to give a better answer to there question. In this case I was attempting to use it to refer to someone that has been their longer than myself without attaching the title to a specific person. Let me know if that is close to the correct usage.

Since it was brought up I must ask this question about the word otaku, if I remember correctly that translates to enthusiast or geek more commonly correct? Well correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that a word people try to avoid because of the reference to I think one or two mass murder incidents?

[zakojanai]

I think in a working situation, you'd be more likely to use the person's name or title. But senpai would be acceptable in some situations, including the one you mentioned (I think). But with senpai, it's going to be used for someone who has a similar position or age to your own, but with more experience. You wouldn't use senpai for your boss or anyone officially above you. In those cases use name+title (shachou, buchou, kaichou, sensei, etc.)

And yeah, you could use -tan in pretty much any situation where you could use -chan. You'll just sound cuter/geekier. I could use -tan with my fiancee (I won't), but I wouldn't use it with my students. I taught at an elementary school and used -chan when addressing the younger femaie students and this seemed to be ok. But using -tan probably would have been weird.

As for Otaku, think of it as kind of like the word Goth in American English. (I know the subcultures are very different, but bare with me.) In Japan, many otaku are proud of it and view it as a lifestyle choice, while others view them as weird or even dangerous. This is kind of like how many goths were viewed as dangerous, particularly in the wake of Columbine. The truth is, both otaku and goths have their own thing going on and aren't really dangerous, but that doesn't mean everyone will see it that way. Also, both otaku and gothic have more classical meanings that are still used but no longer immediately associated with the word. (Goths were originally a Germanic people and Gothic later referred to architectural and literary styles. Otaku originally (and still is) an honorific word for "you" or "your home.")

[slehner]

Thanks for all the information you've already given me.

I'm curious about "chan" and "kun" use for age. Does this apply from infant to high school seinors? When is it proper to start addresing one as san.

[zakojanai]

There's not really an easy answer to that because it depends a lot on your age, the other person's age, the closeness of the relationship and the formality of the situation.

From a teacher's perspective, it's probably ok to use chan for really young kids that you don't know, but otherwise I'd use san or kun as the default. By really young, I mean 2nd or 3rd grade and under. By the time they're in junior high, teachers will normally be addressing students with san or kun but how they address them in the hall might differ from how they address them in class or at an assembly. You kind of just have to spend some time with the language and things will start to come naturally.