Since this would probably be of use to others, I'm sending it to
the list at large, as well.

1. -san
  Likely the safest one ever to use. It could be thought of, basically,
as adding "Mr." or "Ms." to a name, except that it works just as well
with the given name as it is with the family name. When in doubt, use
"-san".

2. -kun
  This is used to address people of a lower or same station as yourself,
in a clearly defined hierarchy. For example, a boss talking to an
employee would likely use "-kun" when addressing the employee. An
upperclassman in school would use "-kun" when addressing a lowerclassman
(please refer to the "-sempai" tag defined later).  Note that there is
no gender specification here--a male or female worker speaking to a
junior female coworker may well use "-kun". It is also often used
between good male friends, or from female to male friend, of more or
less equal stature. To be used carefully.

3. -chan
  A diminutive, "cute" honorific. Basically, it can always be used when
addressing a child of, say, ten years or younger, whether male or
female. Very close friends of older ages may use it as well--primarily
between girls or a guy addressing a girl, but there are cases of a girl
addressing a guy using "-chan". I would suppose there are also cases of
older guys referring to each other by "-chan", but it doesn't seem to be
all too prevalent.
  This is definitely one to be used with great care. It tends to signify
closeness between the addresser and adressee, and if that closeness
isn't really there, then it's an insult. Along with that idea--never use
"-chan" with the person's family name, as that is also a definite
insult. (This is basically the only one that cannot be used with either
given or family names--given name only.) Another note--many older
Japanese these days seem to feel that younger females tend to overuse
this one....

4. -sensei (or just plain Sensei, unattached to a name)
  Though it is most well known for use as an address to teachers and
instructors of all levels and types, there are other people for whom you
would use "-sensei". Doctors, writers, artists, actors...more generally,
someone who is very accomplished in a certain field--a professional of
some sort.

5. Quick interlude on teachers addressing students
  For earlier ages, naturally, a teacher would address his/her students
with their given name + "-chan", as they are all of that young age. In
later years, say late elementary or early middle school through high
school, teachers tend to shift to "-san" to address females and "-kun"
to address males, with either given or family names (no real rule on
that, I think), though some may use "-san" for male students, too. By
college and grad school, though, professors pretty much stick to family
name + "-san".

6. -sempai, Sempai
  A coworker or student with more seniority is addressed as "Sempai" or
name + "-sempai" by those with less seniority. It is not used, though,
from employee to boss. "-san" or the appropriate title ("-shachou" for
company president, for example) is used instead.
  As for more senior workers to junior colleagues or upper to
lowerclassmen, "-kun" is used, usually, although "-san" might also be
used. Now, "kouhai" basically means "junior", sort of an opposite to
"sempai" in terms of definition, but "-kouhai" is never used as an
honorific or term of address.

7. -sama
  One could think of "-sama" as a very highly respectful form of "-san".
Someone that you personally admire greatly or someone who has a very
high social status somehow would earn a "-sama" from you. For instance,
the Emperor would be called "-sama" by basically everyone outside of the
Imperial Family (that is, if the name of the Emperor is ever used in
addressing him...I don't know; the Japanese may have some sort of
equivalent of "Your Majesty"....). It could be thought of as adding
"Lord" or "Lady" to your address.
  Some also use this as a term of great affection, but that is not the
principal use of it. Definitely, the above use is what it is generally
intended for.
  Be careful with this one--using "-sama" to someone who doesn't really
fit the term is kind of strange. Plus, overuse of it can sort of make it
meaningless.

8. -dono
  This one's an old one, not used much at all nowadays. If one were
addressing a nobleman or lady of the court during the days of the
Shogunate, you would likely use "-dono". As with "-sama", it's somewhat
like adding "Lord" or "Lady", but with a different level to it...not
exactly lower (well, definitely lower than the Emperor, of course), but
just a different level. Don't worry about this one too much--it's pretty
much an archaism, nowadays heard mostly only in period films or series.

9. Last note
  In real life, never ever use an honorific when referring to yourself.
It's just not done. :P To add "-san" (or worse, "-sama") when talking
about yourself by using your own name is seen to be quite pompous, in a
society where the norm is humbling yourself and elevating others.
"-chan" is, well...sort of cute, but rather childish--one could excuse
it if a young child talked about him/herself using that, I suppose. The
others also just aren't used. Basically...don't do it.


Andrew Huang...Nerdboy@KawaiiMUCK; ICQ UIN: 30809640
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~alhuang/
Harvard Anime Society, President
"Mweh. Heh. Heh."