Those are honorifics for people.
In Japanese culture, being polite is important, especially with strangers and those who they don't know well (or even those who they do know but have a higher status such as a boss or elder). Honorifics are used to show respect to others. These are never to be used toward oneself, only to others.
The format is usually [Last Name]-san/kun/chan/etc. If someone is friends, family or close, sometimes the first name can be used, however it is usually the last name that is used, in school and always at work.
[Name]-san = equivalent of saying Mr. /Mrs. / Ms. [Name]; used for anyone
[Name]-sempai = one who has more experience (ex: In school used for an upperclassman or senior class; at work - one who has been at the job longer)
[Name]-kohai = one who has less experience (ex: In school - a lowerclassman (opposite of "-sempai")
[Name]-chan = used for young girls/female (ex: In school-classmate to classmate with permission of classmate; teachers usually use "-san"); if not srangers; at home; friends)
[Name]-kun = used for young boys/male (ex:in school- classmate to classmate or teacher to classmate; ex2: Work-employee to employee of same stastus/position/work)
Others:
www.wordiq.com
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JapaneseHonorifics
In Japanese culture, being polite is important, especially with strangers and those who they don't know well (or even those who they do know but have a higher status such as a boss or elder). Honorifics are used to show respect to others. These are never to be used toward oneself, only to others.
The format is usually [Last Name]-san/kun/chan/etc. If someone is friends, family or close, sometimes the first name can be used, however it is usually the last name that is used, in school and always at work.
[Name]-san = equivalent of saying Mr. /Mrs. / Ms. [Name]; used for anyone
[Name]-sempai = one who has more experience (ex: In school used for an upperclassman or senior class; at work - one who has been at the job longer)
[Name]-kohai = one who has less experience (ex: In school - a lowerclassman (opposite of "-sempai")
[Name]-chan = used for young girls/female (ex: In school-classmate to classmate with permission of classmate; teachers usually use "-san"); if not srangers; at home; friends)
[Name]-kun = used for young boys/male (ex:in school- classmate to classmate or teacher to classmate; ex2: Work-employee to employee of same stastus/position/work)
Others:
www.wordiq.com
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JapaneseHonorifics
