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Club Otaku's guide to learning basic japanese

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  • Moderator
    Gordonator's Avatar
    42,994 posts since Jul '04
    • alright Otakus, what better way to enjoy an anime then to understand what the characters are saying. so i have came out with some simple phrases that are commonly used in animes. feel free to add on more. Cool

      A-N

      aa - yeah (informal)
      ai - love
      aishiteru - I love you
      ame - rain
      anata - you
      aneki - slang for big sister
      aniki - slang for big brother
      ano - colloquial for "ummm"
      arigato - thank you
      baka (or 'bakayaro')- stupid/idiot
      bi - prefix meaning "beautiful"
      bishie - short for bishounen
      bishoujo - beautiful girl
      bishounen - beautiful boy
      bijin - beautiful woman
      bidan - beautiful man
      bikkuri - surprise/surprising
      -chan - title put at the end of a name - most often used for friends or siblings of equal standing
      chibi - small/shortstuff
      chikuso (or 'kuso' for short) = dammit
      chotto - a little
      chottomatte - wait!
      Daijoubu (desu) ka? - Are you okay?
      Daijoubu desu ne - that's alright / it's OK
      daisuki - I "like" you/it/them
      dame - no/bad/wrong etc. (a negative response)
      dare - who
      dare desu ka - whose it that
      demo - but/however
      desu - it is/this is
      doko - where
      domo - thank you (more casual)
      dozo - please (e.g. please sit down)
      -dono - title put at the end of a name - used for a person of higher standing, but somewhat more honorable than "-san" (not a common word)
      doujinshi - fan comics using characters from established anime or manga
      etto - er...
      ecchi - perverse (less extreme than 'hentai')
      fuku - uniform (often referring to the "sailor suits" of Japanese schoolgirls)
      fushigi - mysterious
      gaijin - a non-Japanese person (literally, it means 'foreigner')
      gakusei - student
      Ganbare! - Do your best! / Work hard!
      Ganbatte! - Do you best! / Hang in there!
      Genki - health/energy
      Genki desu ka - How are you?
      Genki desu - I am fine
      Genki o desu - Cheer up
      Gomen (ne) - I'm sorry
      Gomen nasai - I'm very sorry
      gozaimasu - added to the end of certain words such as 'arigato' or 'ohayou' to make it more polite
      hajimemashite - pleased to meet you
      hanyou - half youkai (demon)
      hayai - quick/fast
      hazukashii - embarrassing
      hen - strange
      henshin - transformation
      hentai - perverse (more extreme than 'ecchi'); also, sexually explicit anime/manga
      hime - princess
      Honto?! - Really?!
      hai - yes
      hana - flower
      hayaku - hurry
      hi - fire ('ka' is also fire)
      Hidoi yo/ne/na! - How cruel/mean!
      hikari - light
      hikaru - to shine
      himitsu - secret
      hisashiburi desu - long time no see
      hoshi - star
      iie - no
      ikiteru - to live
      ima - now
      imoto - little sister
      inu - dog
      itai! - ow! (painful)
      itoshii - darling
      itsu (ka) - when
      Itte kimasu - I'm leaving
      Ja (ne) - See you later (same as 'Ja mata (ne)' and 'Mata ne')
      ja nai - is not
      Ja matta (ne) - See you later (same as 'Ja (ne)' and 'Mata ne')
      jo'o-sama - queen
      ka - fire ('hi' is also fire)
      kami - god or divine spirit
      kanojyo - she (more personal)
      kawaii - very cute )
      kare - he (more personal)
      kaze - wind
      ki - tree
      kimi - you (more personal e.g. kimi wa petto - you are my pet)
      kirei - beautiful/pretty
      kiseki - miracle
      kitto - sure/surely
      kimochi - feeling (often meaning 'that feels good')
      Kinishi na - Don't worry about it / It's OK
      kitsune - fox
      koe - voice
      koi - love
      kokoro - heart
      konbanwa - good night
      konnichiwa - hello
      kotchi - over here (for calling someone)
      kowai - scary
      kudasai - please
      -kun - title put at the end of a name - usually used for males, both for people of a lower standing (such as a student or a son) and for friends of equal standing
      kuzu - scum
      Maa, maa! - Now, now!
      Machinasai! - Wait!
      mada mada dane - you still have a long way to go!
      mahou - magic
      Masaka! - It can't be!
      Mata ne / Mata Ashita - See you later (same as 'Ja mata (ne)' and 'Ja (ne)')
      mazoku - demon/monster (more literally, 'evil people')
      megami - goddess
      minikui - ugly
      mina-san - everyone
      mite - look
      mochiron - of course/naturally
      mou - a sound of frustration such as "geez"
      nNani mo nai - It's nothing
      nan desuka? - what is it?
      nani - what
      Nani kore? - What is this?
      namida - tears
      naruhodo - I see/I understand
      naze - why
      ne(h) - isn't that right / don't you think
      neko - cat
      ningen - human or humanity
      no - particle meaning "of" (example: ai no senshi = soldier of love)
      nomimono - drink

      Edited by Gordonator 11 Jan `08, 4:24PM
  • alexkusu's Avatar
    37,982 posts since Jan '05
    • O-Z

      oba-san - grandmother or old woman ('ba-san - slang for grandma)
      obaa-san - aunt ('baa-san - slang for aunt)
      ohayoo - good morning
      oji-san - grandfather or old man ('ji-san - slang for grandad)
      ojii-san - uncle ('jii-san - slang for uncle)
      oka-san - mother ('ka-san - slang for mom)
      okashira - leader/boss
      omedetou - congratulations
      omoshiroi - amusing/funny/interesting
      onée-san - big sister or sister-in-law ('née-san - slang for big sister or sister-in-law)
      Onegai! - Please!/I beg of you!
      onegaishimasu - please do it
      oni - ogre/devil
      onii-san - big brother ('nii-san - slang for big brother)
      otaku - an enthusiastic and often knowledgeable fan of anime (however, in Japan this word can be insulting as it is sometimes used to describe a person with an extreme and unhealthy obsession)
      Otanjoubiomedetou gozaimasu! - Happy birthday!
      oto-san - father ('to-san - slang for dad)
      ototo - little brother ('toto - slang for little brother)
      oyaji - pops/old man (a colloquial term for father)
      Oyasumi nasai - Good night
      rurouni - wanderer/vagabond
      -sama - title put at the end of a name - used for very important people or kamis (divine spirits); the most honorable title
      -san - title put at the end of a name - used for a person of higher standing, or a person you are not yet familiar with
      seiyuu - voice actor
      seme - in a homosexual relationship, the 'dominant' or 'male' role
      -sempai - title put at the end of a name - used for a senior student/worker with more experience than you
      -sensei - title put at the end of a name - used for a teacher; can also be used as a stand alone word for "teacher"
      senshi - soldier
      shikashi - however/but/none-the-less
      Shi'ne! - Die!
      shoujo - girl
      shoujo-ai - romance between girls
      shounen - boy
      shounen-ai - romance between boys
      Sore nani? - What is it?
      sayonara - goodbye
      sora - sky
      Sou desu ka (or Sou ka) - "I see" or "Is that so?" You can respond to almost ANYTHING with "Sou desu ka." You can just keep saying it (just change your intonation) and it will make you seem like you know what you're talking about!
      Sugoi da na! - That's amazing!
      sumimasen - excuse me/pardon me
      suteki - wonderful/amazing/great etc.
      tabemono - food
      tadaima - I'm home or I'm here
      taihen - how terrible/oh no
      taiyou - sun
      tanoshii - fun/amusing
      tanuki - raccoon dog
      Tasukete! - Help me! / Save me!
      toki - time
      tomodachi - friend
      tonikaku - in any case/anyway
      tori - bird
      tsubasa - wing
      tsuchi - earth
      tsuki - moon
      uke - in a homosexual relationship, the 'sub' or 'female' role
      uma - horse
      umi - sea
      usagi - rabbit
      Urusai! - Shut up! (literally, "noisy")
      ureshii - happy or I'm so happy!
      usotsuki - liar
      uta - song
      Uso! - You're lying! / No way!
      Wai! - similar to Yay!
      wakarimasen - I don't understand
      wakarimashita - I understand
      warui - bad
      watashi / watakushi - I
      yamero - stop
      Yamete! - Stop it!
      yami - darkness
      yappari - I knew it / as I expected
      yare yare - similar to oh well / my, my / well, well
      Yatta! - Yay!, I did it!, or some other exclamation of achievement (shortened form of yokatta)
      Yokatta! - Yay!, I did it!, or some other exclamation of achievement
      Yoshi! - similar to Here I go! / Alright, something said when you're about to start something
      youkai - demon, not necessarily evil
      youkoso - welcome
      yoru - night
      yuki - snow
      yume - dream
      yuri - the female equivalent of yaoi; also lily

      Numbers
      0 = rei
      1 = ichi
      2 = ni
      3 = san
      4 = yon (sometimes 'shi')
      5 = go
      6 = roku
      7 = nana (sometimes 'shichi')
      8 = hachi
      9 = kyu (sometimes 'ku')
      10 = ju
      100 = hyaku
      1000 = sen
      10000 = man
      100,000,000 = oku
      100,000,000,000 = cho
      12345 = ichi-man ni-sen san-hyaku yon-ju go! (i think)

      Edited by MooKu 30 Nov `06, 10:30PM
  • thousandisland's Avatar
    423 posts since Dec '05
  • MoonIce's Avatar
    6,050 posts since Nov '02
  • dragg's Avatar
    43,132 posts since Mar '05
  • Moderator
    Gordonator's Avatar
    42,994 posts since Jul '04
    • japanese usually address one another with a title. for example, if it is someone senior than u or someone unfamiliar, u add a 'san' after their name.

      [*]example: gordon san, ichigo san

      if addressing someone u know like friends, for girls we add a 'chan' after their names. for guys we add a 'kun'. or we simply address them by their names. but some might find that to be rude.

      [*]example for girls, mooku chan, sakura chan, momoko chan
      [*]example for guys, kurosaki kun, Sado kun, ishida kun

      Edited by Gordonator 28 Aug `06, 11:42PM
  • ~smile a little smile~
    stellazio's Avatar
    43,371 posts since Apr '05
  • seow's Avatar
    12,042 posts since Dec '04
  • dragg's Avatar
    43,132 posts since Mar '05
  • phanta5y's Avatar
    428 posts since Dec '02
  • SGpork's Avatar
    67,513 posts since Feb '04
  • Moderator
    Gordonator's Avatar
    42,994 posts since Jul '04
  • Ito_^'s Avatar
    23,148 posts since Jul '04
  • MohamedF's Avatar
    3,742 posts since May '06
    • My most used jap word: Kuso & Chikusho can either mean shit or damn it.... Odex changed it to darn it Laughing

  • life2121's Avatar
    722 posts since Nov '05
    • Originally posted by phanta5y:
      kimochi!!

      actually the meaning of kimochi is only 'feeling'

      correct way shld be ii kimochi but *ahem* actresses shortcut dats y say kimochi only... Wink

  • Moderator
    Gordonator's Avatar
    42,994 posts since Jul '04
    • obasan = auntie
      ojisan = uncle
      okaasan = mother
      otosan = father
      niisan = elder brother
      imouto = little sister

  • shade343's Avatar
    13,549 posts since Jun '04
  • CoolMyth's Avatar
    15,759 posts since Oct '04
  • Moderator
    Gordonator's Avatar
    42,994 posts since Jul '04
  • seow's Avatar
    12,042 posts since Dec '04
  • Moderator
    Gordonator's Avatar
    42,994 posts since Jul '04
  • angelfairy's Avatar
    529 posts since Dec '05
    • Originally posted by Gordonator:
      alright Otakus, what better way to enjoy an anime then to understand what the characters are saying. so i have came out with some simple phrases that are commonly used in animes. feel free to add on more. Cool

      NAN DES KA = what is it
      Sou des ka = Is that so?
      Dye-joh-bu = are u alright?
      SUMIMASEN = excuse me
      Ohayou =good morning
      Konnichiwa = good afternoon
      Konbanwa = good evening
      Aishite iru = i love u
      Sou ka = i see
      Doozo = please
      Wakarimashita = i understand.

      more like understood. understand would be wakarimasu

  • dragg's Avatar
    43,132 posts since Mar '05
    • Originally posted by angelfairy:
      more like understood. understand would be wakarimasu

      it has nothing much to do with tense.

      it is a more courteous way of telling people you understand. wakarimashita is used instead of wakarimasu.

      take thank you for example. there is no past tense for thank you right? thank youed??

      but the japanese normally say arigatogozaimashita instead of arigatogozaimasu.

      Edited by dragg 03 Sep `06, 2:38PM
  • Moderator
    Gordonator's Avatar
    42,994 posts since Jul '04
    • ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, nana, hachi, kyu, juu Arrow 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 , 9, 10

      Edited by Gordonator 03 Sep `06, 9:34PM
  • dragg's Avatar
    43,132 posts since Mar '05
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