Suffixes used to classify people:
-san - Usual term for respect. Used around strangers and people you're not very close to, but basically in the same social status. In school, classmates are referred to as 'last name'-san.
-tan - the "cute" version of -san. A bit more affectionate.
-chan - Using this means either the person is younger than you or the person is very close to you. Unless your friends and you are very close knit, you usually stop calling each other this at around your teenage years. Also can be used to indicate a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. (If you're really close to family or want to make fun of siblings, you can use this instead of -san too.)
-hime - Used to call someone princess.
-sama - Indicates a lot of respect. Used for royalty, your boss, and if you respect your family a lot, you can use this instead of -san when addressing them.
-chama - the "cute" version of -sama. More affectionate than its origin.
-kun - Used by socially superior males to socially inferior ones (guys in a higher grade to a lower grade.) It is also used around male students and boys who grew up together. Girls call their crushes 'their name'-kun. Also, it can be used from a social superior to social inferior (a boss to an assistant). But this varies due to modern times.
Terms people use to identify others (not suffixes):
Watashi - Polite way to say 'I' or 'Me'.
Watakushi - Very polite way to say 'I' or 'Me'.
Sesshai - VERY polite way to say 'I' or 'Me'. It means 'this unworthy person'. (notably used by Himura Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin)
Atashi - Informal Feminine way to say 'I' or 'Me'.
Boku - Informal Masculine way to say 'I' or 'Me'.
Anata - Polite way to say 'you'.
Kimi - Informal Masculine way to say 'you'.
Otou-san - Father
Papa - Translates more to 'Daddy'.
Okaa-san - Mother
Mama - Translates more to 'Mommy'.
Onee-san - older sister
Onii-san - older brother
Otouto - younger brother
Imouto - younger sister
Ojii-san - Grandfather (Ojii-chan means Grandpa)
Oba-san - Grandmother
Ojou-san - Miss
Sempai/Senpai - This is used for one's mentor or someone older in school you admire. But beware: it can also mean 'boyfriend'.
Sensei - Teacher or Doctor.
Just Some Cultural Notes:
· Sentai (not to be confused with hentai!!) is the term for the concept of a group of world-saviors (usually teenagers) in groups of five that can (somehow or other) don technicolored costumes and battle bad guys; e.g. Power Rangers, Sailor Moon, Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, and even Neon Genesis Evangelion- to a point.
· My grandparents know Japanese. They're Filipino, but they were taught the classic Imperial Japanese (incredibly polite) when they were in school- around World War II, during Japan's occupation of the Philippines. Gotta love 'em...^_^
· On that note, Rurouni Kenshin takes place in the original Imperial Japan. He's really polite because he was a former hitokiri...
· No, I am NOT going to include any curses, insults, etc. on my page. Please, children. If that's all you want to do, you're a disgrace to the English language.
Now that you've gotten all of that, here are some commonly said words and phrases online.
Abunai! - Watch out!/Duck!
Ai shiteru - I love you (Note: this is an extreme form of love. Saying I love you is USUALLY done with "suki da yo")
Akiramenai (yo)! - I won't surrender!
(Doomo) Arigatou (Gozaimasu) - Thank you (the longer the more polite)
Baka! - Stupid/Silly
Chotto - Just a minute
Chotto Matte - Wait a minute
Daijoubu (ka)? - Are you all right?
Daisuki! - I really like you! (I love you!)
Doozo - Please (unsaid as in 'please do')
Doushita? - What's wrong?
Ganbatte! - Good luck!
Gomen (Nasai) - Excuse me/I'm sorry (in the kiddie way)
Hai - Yes
Hajimemashite - Nice to meet you (for the first time)
Hayaku - Hurry!
Henshin yo! - Transform!
Hisashiburi da na - Long time no see/So we meet again
Hontou - Truly/Really/Truth (depends on how you use it)
Iie - No
(Iie,) douitashimashite - You're welcome
Ikimashou! - Let's go!
Itai! - Ouch!
Ittaizentai - Whatever
Iya - No (to an action)
Ja ne! - See ya!
Kakkoii! - Cool!/Looking Good!
Kawaii - Cute
Kirei - Beautiful
Kite Kite! - Guess what!
Kitto - Absolutely/Completely
Komban wa - Good Evening
Konnichi wa - Good Day/Hello
Masaka! - No way!/I can't believe it!/Impossible!
Matte - Wait
Minna(-san) - Everyone
Moshi Moshi - Hello (answering the phone or getting one's attention)
Nani? - What?
Naze? - Why?/How?
Nigero! - Run!
Ohaiyo Gozaimasu - Good Morning (if a friend, just plain 'ohaiyo' will do)
Okaeri (nasai) - Welcome back (after someone says 'tadaima')
Onegai (shimasu) - Please
Oro - What?/Huh?/Oh... (really polite, Kenshin uses this too)
Oyasumi (nasai) - Good Night
Shi ne! - Die!
Sonna! - It can't be!/No way!
Sou (da) - Correct
Sou ka - I see..
Sugoi! - Awesome!/Amazing!
Suki da yo! - (I like you, literally) I love you
Suteki! - Cool!
Sumimasen - Sorry
Tadaima - I'm back (home)
Yamete! - Stop it!
Yokatta - I'm glad
Yoshi! - Alright!
Youkoso! - Nice to see you!
Yuruusan/Yuruusenai! - I will not forgive you! (NOTE: in Japan, forgiveness is a big thing, so if someone says this, it's meant to REALLY hurt.)
These are some miscellaneous words I just happened to find a whole archive on. Just a note: lots of them have multiple meanings.
A
ai - love
aida - space
ao - blue
akachan - baby
aki - autumn
akikaze - autumn wind
ayashi - fantastic
B
baka - idiot
bento - lunch box(or something like that)
bishoujo - pretty girl
bishounen - pretty boy (handsome or gay, depends)
boushi - hat
burande - brandy
C
chibi - small, runt, mini
cho - super
chojin - superman
chojo - superwoman
D
densetsu - legend (remember that this doesn't mean destiny)
dokoro no hata - skull and crossbones
E
e-jiento - agent
eiyu - heroic
engi - theater
F
fuku - outfit
fuuin - seal (the kind you put on an envelope)
fushigi - wondrous or mysterious
fuji - puffer fish
G
ginga - Milky Way galaxy
ginzuishou - silver crystal (Princess Serenity's in Sailor Moon)
gakuen - campus/school/academy
genki - lively or happy
genso - illusion
H
hana - flower/nose
hanashi-ka - storyteller
hareru - sunny
hentai - pervert
hi/ki - fire or ice
hikage - shadow (from sunlight)
hitokiri - assassin (literally, "person slicer")
hoshi - star
hotaru - firefly
ho-po - hope
hoseki - jewel
hyoeyu - castaway
I
inu - dog
inazuke - fiancee
itazura - mischievous
J
jigoku - hell
juku - school
jaga - jaguar
jagon - evil eye
K
kai - seashell
kage - shadow
kaidashi - shopping
kakumei - revolution
kakyuu - fireball
kame - turtle
kamen - mask
kami(-sama) - God
kantai - fleet
kara - afar
kashiramoji - intitial
kasumi - mist
kawa - river
ki - wood, tree
kitsune - fox
kitsunegari - fox hunt
kishi - knight
kodachi - group or cluster of trees
kodomo - children
koinu - puppy
kokoro - heart
koneko - kitten
kouma - colt
konpeki-azure - the color
kuro - black
kiba - sun
kimagure - whimsical
kinryoku - sanctuary
kissaten - coffeeshop
kodomo - child
kojin - cyborg
koorime - ice woman
kyojin - giant
L
Oh, I forgot. In Japanese, L and R are pronounced the same. Therefore, this doesn't really exist.
M
mahou - magic
megami - goddess
makai - demon world
mamno - demon or devil
mamoru - protect
manatsu - midsummer
manazashi - gaze
manga - comic book novel(s)
mata mata - once again
matsuyasumi - summer vacation
mizu - water
mori - forest
musume - girl, used like the American "babe"
muteki - invincible
N
neko - cat
nezumi - mouse
niji - rainbow
ningyo - doll
ninjuishou - if I spelled it right, Rainbow Crystal (used in Sailor Moon)
Nippon (Nihon) - Japan
ningenkai - mortal world
O
ofuda - anti-evil scroll (Sailor Mars from Sailor Moon)
ofuro - bath
okami - wolf
oni - ogre
onna - woman
onnako - girl
okane - money
omocha - toy
otanko - dumb or ditzy
otaku - fanboy/girl, nerd, home, there are a lot of meanings.
P
pika - flash of light (Pikachu!)
pikapika - sparkle
Q
Q's are pronounced as 'ka', so this doesn't exist either.
R
ryuu - dragon
raion - lion (remember the L and R...)
reikai - spirit world
S
senshi - warrior
shabon - soap
shiro - white
shitakiki - pencil board
sugoi - cool, pretty
seihuku - uniform
sennoujuku - cram school
shiruba - silver
shi - death
shikken jigoku - examination hell
shi-kurretto - secret
shinjuru - faith
suihei - sailor
sakura - cherry blossom
sebrio - suit
sei - holy, life
seiyuu - voice actor/actress
senki - century
shin - new
shinkai - deep sea
shoutai - team
sotsugyou - graduation
T
tsuki - moon
tai - organization or club
tora - tiger
taisen - war or battle
taiyou - fang
tamago - egg
tamagotchi - lovable egg
tanteidan - detective
tatsu - stand
tenku - vision
tensi - reincarnation
tenshi - angel
tetsewon - mighty
toki - time
tomodachi - friend
tsunami - tidal wave
U
umi - ocean
usagi - rabbit
uchujin - alien
uma - horse
ushu - space
uchuu - space/universe
Y
yume - dream
yuugi - dance or play
yunikon - unicorn
yosei - fairy
youko - fox spirit
yusha - hero
Z
zai - talent or wealth
zenzen - not at all
Numbers
ichi - one(1)
ni - two(2)
san - three(3)
shi/yon - four(4)
go - five(5)
roku - six(6)
shichi/nana - seven(7)
hachi - eight(8)
kyuu - nine(9)
jyuu - ten(10)