Thread:Stray Bird/@comment-30314236-20170817160336/@comment-27971189-20170926133656

Sorry to barge in;

First, -san is not truly referring honorific.

-san implies characteristic referring to person traits. Which is why aside of those like "Hitsuji-san" or "Shikifan-san" you can hear like: "samurai-san", "hon'ya-san", "onee-san", "okaa-san", etc. So rather than honorific, it more correct if "Hitsuji-san" (example) means "this is person known as Hitsuji".

Second, -chan originally referring to children / childish trait;

As said, nowadays it define something you find cute or lovable, such as Astolfo-chan or Atalanta-chan. It used by women not because reason easier to attach, but because women prefer define themselves cute or lovable (for obvious reason) by close / casual interaction. Junior woman employees sometimes referred as -kun instead of -chan.

-kun itself originally refers more to informal way of addressing someone. Cultural change made it looks specific to male while actually you can use it to refer female too.

That's it, thank you.