how to use "san"

[Vikthor]

Hi:
First I will introduce myself. I am a comic book artist living in Argentina.
I am making a web comic set in ancient Japan (link below) and since I always try to make the best product I can I wil be asking some questions about japanese, even when I don´t speak any japanese (only a few words, but not one single phrase!). I am plaining to study sometime in the future, but first I have to learn English, so forgive me
if some of my questions are stupid.
Can anyone tell me how to use the word (?) "san" (also if someone can tell me what does it mean)? I also saw it written "chan" (which one is right?). It is used with the names, but I don´t know how. For instance, with my name, would it be "Victor-san" or "Cabanelas-san"?
Thank you very much,

[Keiichi]

This has been asked a lot. I did a search for you and here's a relavant thread:
http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=5484

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Vikthor
For instance, with my name, would it be "Victor-san" or "Cabanelas-san"?
Thank you very much,

You never use a name suffix when speaking of yourself.

[PaulTB]

Originally posted by Elizabeth
You never use a name suffix when speaking of yourself.

Actually there are at least two exceptions for that rule, but you probably didn't want to confuse the matter.

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by PaulTB
Actually there are at least two exceptions for that rule, but you probably didn't want to confuse the matter.

I was wondering later if there may not be....

[PaulTB]

Originally posted by Elizabeth
I was wondering later if there may not be....

The two exceptions (that I know of) are
1. When talking to someone while referring to yourself from their perspective.
[Edit] Here's one.
「こりゃすごい、ちゃんとママちゃんがわかるじゃ！」
The speaker being Hagrid talking about/to the baby dragon he's looking after [And no, it's not usual for blokes to refer to themselves as 'ママちゃん' ]
There are better examples, like "Listen to what your mother tells you." said by the mother to her child.
2. When you are a historical samurai or anime equivalent of same
http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.p...kind=jn&mode=0