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What honorifics, if any, are used with nicknames?

For example, would Matz-san (for [Yukihiro
Matsumoto](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukihiro_Matsumoto)) make sense (at
least coming from someone new to Japanese), or would the mixture of the
slightly formal "-san" and an informal nickname seem strange?
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2011-07-08T10:58:33.147
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2015-07-31T23:33:46.877
2015-07-31T23:33:46.877
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honorifics names
What honorifics are used with nicknames?
It is OK.

Even though it mixes formal and informal, colleagues often call me ニコさん.

ちゃん and くん is used with nicknames more often.
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2011-07-08T12:06:08.677
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2011-07-08T12:06:08.677
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Basically, you can use all honorifics with nicknames.

Of course, it is _unlikely_ that you call Robert "ボビー*様*" (except as joke or
if it's part of the nickname), but if you meet a guy and he says "My name is
Daisuke, but you can call me Dai!", you'll probably end calling him "ダイ君". And
Tomoko will be "トモちゃん". And if you're not that close to the other person, ダイさん
and トモさん will be ok too. Similarly, if you're a red-haired teacher, your
friends may call you Ginger先生, and so on…
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2011-07-08T12:07:06.633
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2011-07-08T12:07:06.633
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There really are no hard and fast rules with nicknames plus honorifics when
actually speaking. Usually something will end up sticking even though it may
be "wrong". For someone new to Japanese, go with -san (for older or business)
and -chan (for younger or girlfriends) and then follow the lead of the
Japanese people you are with.

For example, one friend of mine is よちゃん. This is what everyone calls him,
including younger people and people the same age, he even introduces himself
this way in friendly groups. This would be wrong according to the rules, but
is what the native Japanese call him.

I've been called ロスちゃん among friends as well as ロスピン, though the ピン is
reserved for girlfriend and boyfriend in my experience. In more formal
situations, I am generally called ロスさん, even though my last name would be more
"correct". When I am the customer, though, it is always last name + さま.

So, really just follow the lead of those around you, this is an area where the
rules often give way to whatever feels right.
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2011-07-08T23:53:33.353
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