The use of -さん when answering about oneself


If someone says,

> あなた は Chris-さん です か。  
>  Are you Chris?

Do you answer

> Chris です

Or

> Chris-さん です




> Chris です。

`さん` is never used (except jokingly perhaps) to refer to oneself. The same
goes for other common endings such as `くん`, `ちゃん`, `さま`, `先輩` and `先生`.

That's because these endings usually convey a kind of relation: for instance,
`さま` conveys respect, `くん` and `ちゃん` convey some endearment and while `さん`
conveys very little meaning, it does convey separation. You can't use `さん` on
yourself because it's pointless to specify your relation to yourself. And this
is even truer for the other endings.




> Chris です。

`さん` is never used (except jokingly perhaps) to refer to oneself. The same
goes for other common endings such as `くん`, `ちゃん`, `さま`, `先輩` and `先生`.

That's because these endings usually convey a kind of relation: for instance,
`さま` conveys respect, `くん` and `ちゃん` convey some endearment and while `さん`
conveys very little meaning, it does convey separation. You can't use `さん` on
yourself because it's pointless to specify your relation to yourself. And this
is even truer for the other endings.

