Suffixes - Other stuff since the title isn't long enough

Since some people don't seem to know suffixes, or are confused as to their meaning, here is a very simple guide. Remember, this is short. I didn't go totally in-depth. All of these suffixes have certain implications when you use them, but I couldn't write it all out. It'd take too long.

This is an assimilation of other posts I've made on this matter, so I didn't write it all out this second. 'Kay? I hope this helps. Some of them are rarely used, so focus on -san, -kun, -chan and -sensei. The rest are used less and some are used not at all in the current time period or just less.

If someone is confused, please ask. I love answering questions about this subject.

-san
The suffix -san is can be equated to our own use of Mr., Mrs., or Miss. It is the all-purpose honorific to use, as it can be appropriately attached to the names of new or old aquaintances. You could tag this suffix onto a newcomers name just as easily as you could with a forum user you've known a long time but never became friends or familiar with. This suffix does not imply intimacy.

-sama
This suffix is reserved for individuals who command a high respect and is the loose equivalent of master. This is often times the ultimate level of respect. Note: The use of -sama is typically avoided in modern Japan, as even a casual misuse is regarded as offensive. Despite it's common use in anime and manga, most people in modern Japan prefer to use -san.

-dono
The suffix -dono comes from the word "tono", which means "lord." Like -sama, -dono implies a high level of respect, though it is rarely used today. Some, like Del Rey Manga, say that -dono is an even higher level suffix in terms of respect than -sama. This author is not so sure of it's use, as I have seen it used in a rather stiffly casual way (Kenshin calling Kaoru "Kaoru-dono" in the "Rurouni Kenshin" series, which may or may not take her position as head of her sword-fighting school into account) and as a means of identifying between comrades (in the anime series "Samurai 7", where all the samurai refer to one another using the -dono suffix).

Please note that this suffix appears to be obsolete in Japanese culture, and typically applies only to traditional, drama, or fantasy-based anime and manga.

-kun
This suffix is typically used with young boys and is used to emote familiarity, but can also be used among grown men for the same reason. It is a less stuffy alternative to -san. It is also use with boyish girls on some occasions.

-chan
The suffix -chan is typically used with young girls, very small boys, something cute, or something that's just very small. This suffix implies cuteness and/or closeness, and is often used between lovers.

-bozu
Typically used with young boys (also as a title, "bozu", instead of a suffix), -bozu is the rough equivalent of saying "kiddo", "squirt", or even a playful use of the word "brat". This honorific suffix is often used in anime and manga when an older boy addresses a younger boy he is not particularly impressed or fond of, as it downplays his station.

-senpai or -sempai (translation seems to vary, probably due to pronounciation issues)
This suffix is used to refer to someone of a higher social station within a group or organization (like school or even the workplace). Anime makes tends to make liberal use of this suffix in school settings to show who is in a higher grade than the speaker, and thus implying some measure of respect. This suffix can sometimes be translated as "upperclassman".

Quote:

It's spelled "senpai," but normally pronounced "sempai." The /p/ sound is bilabial, so when people change the /n/ to an /m/, they're using assimilation to make the sound before /p/ more like it.


-kohai
The suffix -kohai is used to refer to individuals who are lower in station than the speaker. Like -senpai/sempai, this is most commonly use in school settings. Although not demeaning or insulting by nature (if you're of lower station you're of lower station, that's just how it is), anime and manga often use -kohai when an upperclassman looks begrudgingly down on a lowerclassman. (this is a rude term to use flatout, to someone's face.)

-sensei
This suffix can be used as a title as well. A sensei is one who teaches, and thus commands some measure of respect. Sensei can be used as a title (calling your teacher sensei is fine) or as an honorific suffix (Sakura in the anime "Naruto" almost always refers to her teacher as Kakashi-sensei). The literal translation of sensei is, "one who has gone before."

-nobaka
This roughly means you idiot. It can be used in a mean way, or a nice way. It just depends on how you say it. It implies a familiarity.

-rin
This is a nickname suffix. It is another form of -Chan basically.

-ue
-ue means higher literally. It's a high form of respect. It is used a lot with the terms haha-ue which means mother and also father which I forget at the moment.

[blank] or no honorific
The absence of an honorific implies that the speaker has been given permission to leave one out, implying an intimacy with whomever granted such permission. This is usually reserved for spouses, family, or close friends. This is known as yobisute. If permission was not obtained and honorifics are not used this is rather insulting.