In a message dated 97-05-10 22:11:59 EDT, you write:

<< At 08:58 PM 5/10/97 -0500, you wrote:
 >
 
 >So far as I know, there's -sempai, -san, -sama, -kun, -chan, etc., but you
 >probably already know that.
 >
 >BTW, "-chan" isn't capitalized, and neither are all of the other prefixes.
 >_______________________________________________________________________
 
 
 Thanx... I do know most of those, but what confuses me is which of them is 
 more or less "familiar" than the others... such as, is 'sempai' more
 intimate than 'chan'?  And, which are used for addressing males or
 addressing females?
 
 Coutuva. >>

I'll tell you the ones I know

-san:  A general term of respect like Mr./Ms./Mrs./Miss.  Placed at the end
of the family name.

-sama:  A more formal version of -san.  Denotes more respect.

o-:  Another term of respect, used at the beginning of nouns.  Can be used
with -san or -sama.
[You can therefore refer to me as o-StarFurie-sama.  NOT!]

-kun:  Term used for boys.

-chan:  Term used for, and overused by, girls.  This can also note someone
you like.

-sempai:  Upperclassmen.  Also used in work for senior employees of same rank
or bosses.

-sensei:  Teacher.  Can also be used for any person in a position of high
authority or respect.

Also, unless you're very familiar with a person, always refer to them by
their family name.

Family terms:

okaa-san:  Mother
otoo-san:  Father
onee-san:  Older Sister
imooto-san:  Younger Sister
onii-san:  Older Brother
otooto-san:  Younger Brother
obaa-san:  Grandmother (old woman)
oba-san:  Aunt
ojii-san:  Grandfather (old man)
oji-san:  Uncle
akachan:  Baby  [Hey!  A new insult for Ranma to use!  Aka-chan, get it!]

Well I've looked in my Japanese study books enough.

StarFurie@aol.com

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