The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Terms + Japanese lessons

The Almost Full Guide To Anime and Anime Terms​

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01. What is Anime?​

Anime
: ???

Japanese word for cartoon and animation. In Japan, "anime" refers to any and all animation or cartoon - regardless of the genre, style, or nation of origin. Outside of Japan the word "anime" has come to refer specifically to animation of Japanese origins, or animation of a particular style (see below). Because of this, it is pronounced the Japanese way: "a-nee-may".

While it is clear that the word anime derives from a western term, there is some debate as to its exact origin. One very common interpretation is that it comes from the French term for cartoon, "dessin anim�", which translates literally to "animated drawing". However, others believe it's simply a contraction of the word "animation" as pronounced in English.

While the French origin is perhaps the most widely spread theory, it may simply be a myth related to the popularity of anime in France in the late 70s and the 80s which was so spectacular it even led to some French-Japanese co-productions. But animation in Japan has existed for longer than that, and the full word for animation there is ?????? (animeshon) which follows the English pronunciation, not the French one. Combined with the fact that Japanese have a habit of incorporating English words into their language much more often than other western languages, this makes a strong case that "anime" is actually the short form of the Japanization of the English word "animation".

There is much controversy as to whether or not the label "anime" can be extended to non-Japanese animation that looks like Japanese animation. Whether or not the label can be extended to non-Japanese animation depends largely on the technical definition of "anime" that one choses to accept:

Defined by origin: Defining "anime" as animation produced in Japan allows for a fairly black and white application of the label. The only gray area occurs with co-productions that may have had a portion of their animation, and/or scripting produced outside of Japan.

Defined by style: Defining "anime" as a style of animation that originated in Japan is much more complicated, however this definition would allow animation produced outside of Japan, but conforming to the defined "style" to be called "anime." It is difficult to determine if this "style" should be determined solely on drawing style (ie: Big eyes, small mouth, pointy hair), if it should include editing techniques (Japanese animation typically makes more use of "cuts" and "camera angles" than most non Japanese animation), and whether the narrative or storytelling style should be included in the definition. Perhaps the biggest pitfall of this definition is that, due to the wide variety of Japanese animation, regardless of any style based definition, there will always be Japanese animation that would not fit the definition, creating a scenario where some Japanese animation would not be anime.

According to Anime News Network editor-in-chief, Christopher Macdonald, "On Anime News Network, we define anime based on the origin of the animation. If it is primarily produced in Japan, it is anime. It should be clear, that by adhering to a definition that defines non-Japanese animation that mimic common anime styles as 'not anime,' Anime News Network does not endorse the notion that these 'pseudo-anime' are in any way inferior to animation produced in Japan. "

Some dictionaries define anime by style.

02. Japanimation​

A North American amalgamation of the words "Japan" and "animation" used to refer to Japanese Animation. Japanimation was, for a while, the common way to refer to Japanese animation before "Anime" became the preferred word.

Since then the word "Japanimation" has fallen in stature and many North American Anime fans sneer upon its use as bastardization.

Paradoxically enough, "Japanimation" is now commonly used in Japan to differentiate between Japanese animation and other animation, all of which is called "Anim�."

Source and Credits go to: animenewsnetwork

03 Anime Cons​

Once upon a time, we anime fans occupied tiny anime rooms at comic & SF cons (when they let us). In the 80's, there were several attempts at small anime related cons but the real action didn't happen until the 90's when AnimeCon came along, with both Japanese & American industry guests. Anime Expo followed the next year, filling the void left by AnimeCon with Anime America making its appearance the next year. After 5 years, Project Akon finally got a Japanese guest. The next year was witness to the East Coast Convention explosion as Otakon, Anime East, & Katsucon all debuted in the space of one year. Now, there are a plethora of Anime related conventions all over the country.

For advance notice of upcoming conventions, check out the Convention Calendars published in each issue of Animerica, Animeco or Protoculture Addicts magazines.

Or you can check out the online Con Calendars at:

www.cybercomm.net/~starbuck/concalendar.html or www.animerica-mag.com/con_calendar/index.html

or check out the Internet Anime/Manga Convention Guide at the FAQ page at www.cybercomm.net/~starbuck/FAQ.html

or check out the Anime Conventions Links page at www.cybercomm.net/~starbuck/links/LnkACons.html

or join the AnimeCons Mailing list at www.cybercomm.net/~starbuck/ML/animecons.html

04. Original Animation Video (OAV/OVA)​

Original Animation Video & Original Video Animation (OAV / OVA) are interchangeable terms used in Japan to refer to animation that is released directly to the video market without first going through a theatrical release or television broadcast. In the beginning OAV was used in Japan. However, due to confusion with Adult Video and Audio/Video electronics this acronym was gradually abandoned in favor of OVA.

Furthermore, OAVs are supposed to have original scripts, although there are exceptions. They can be based on a Manga or TV series, but the particular episode should be original. For example the Ranma � TV series follows Rumiko Takahashi's Manga fairly closely, however the Ranma � OAV series contains stories that were not in the original Manga series.

OAVs are generally higher quality than TV series because a larger budget is allocated to the production and more time is allowed for the work.

With very few exceptions, the vast majority of all pornographic Anime is released as OAVs since the material is not suitable for theatrical or television presentations.

Original Anime DVD

An Original Anime DVD (original animation DVD or OAD), is an OAV released on DVD as an extra with a volume of manga. This term entered popular usage in the summer of 2008 with the Goku Sayonara Zetsub? Sensei, xxxHOLiC: Shunmuki, and Tsubasa: Shunraiki projects. However ANN cannot confirm an earlier use before these projects.

See Also: Original Net Animation

05. Laserdisc Anime Games​

Some of the laserdisc videogames that came out in the early 80's used footage from anime films. Note that while the game discs themselves are not commercially available, the movies on which they are based on are available (with the exception of COBRA COMMAND, of course).

1) The laserdisc videogame CLIFF HANGER by Stern uses footage from two anime movies starring Lupin III, a charming thief created by manga artist Monkey Punch. The movies used were:

- Lupin III: Lupin vs the Clones (a.k.a. Lupin III: Mystery of Mamo) - The Paris car/helicopter chase scene and the hanging scene were taken from this film.

- Lupin III: Cagliostro's Castle - All the other footage for the game was taken from this film. Note: this film is currently being distributed in the US by Streamline Pictures.

2) The videogame BEGA'S BATTLE by Data East used footage from Katsuhiro Otomo's GENMA TAISEN (a.k.a. HARMAGGEDON).

3) The videogame COBRA COMMAND by Data East uses anime footage created (by Toei) specifically for the game.

4) The videogame GALAXY 999 used footage from Leiji Matsumoto's GALAXY EXPRESS 999.

06. Learning Japanese​

As is to be expected, all anime is in Japanese. Synopses, scripts, subtitles and dubbing all help to understand what's going on, but they can only cover a fraction of all the anime being released at a certain time. A common question in rec.arts.anime and sci.lang.japan is "What books would you folks recommend for someone who wants to learn colloquial Japanese?"

The following books have been recommended by persons in this newsgroup as good sources for learning Japanese. Of course, they can't replace a live teacher in a Japanese course at your local university, or practicing with a Japanese-speaking friend (a GOOD friend, in case you unwittingly commit a faux-pas .

Basic Japanese textbooks:

BASIC STRUCTURES IN JAPANESE by Aoki, Hirose, Keller, Sakuma Taishukan Publishing Company A beginner's Japanese textbook.

JAPANESE: THE SPOKEN LANGUAGE by Eleanor Jordan The standard text for college level Japanese. Yale university Press, 1988. ISBN 0-300-04188-8

ESSENTIAL JAPANESE by Samuel. E. Martin.

JAPANESE FOR BUSY PEOPLE (volumes I and II) by Association for Japanese-Language Teaching (AJALT) Kodansha International Publishers (Tokyo and NY) Another beginner's Japanese textbook. Recommended.

Books on colloquial Japanese:

JAPANESE IN ACTION by Jack Seward

MAKING OUT IN JAPANESE by Todd & Erika Geers Yenbooks (Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Company) A book on colloquial Japanese.

MORE MAKING OUT IN JAPANESE The sequel to "Making Out in Japanese"

MANGAJIN MANGAJIN PO Box 7119 Marietta GA 30065 This is a magazine with detailed panel-by-panel manga translations, along with articles on the Japanese culture. Regular features include: "Galaxy Express 999", "What's Michael", "Tanaka-kun", etc. Great for learning colloquial Japanese.

Books on Japanese Grammar:

AN INTRODUCTION TO JAPANESE GRAMMAR AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES by Senko K. Maynard The Japan Times A book on Japanese Grammar

Reference works:

KENKYUSHA'S JAPANESE-ENGLISH DICTIONARY

NELSON'S CHINESE CHARACTER DICTIONARY

Other suggestions:

Get a feel of basic Japanese before figuring out the slangs and contractions.

Keep in mind that even the simplest Manga assume about 7 years of constant Japanese usage.

- Get Japanese copies of children's classics such as Winne-the-Pooh, A Christmas Carol, etc., which are aimed for elementary/grammar school children. Read them and compare with the original English.

- Jordan's book has plain style Japanese starting with chapter 9.

- Most minor Japanese sentences are in the so-called "direct" style.

- Live in Japan for a while. [A bit drastic, isn't it? -- Editor]

- Read manga and watch T.V., preferably watch some show with subtitles.

- LOTS OF PATIENCE!! Learning a new language is never easy.

07. Otaku? What'S An Otaku?​

OTAKU

(1) Original meaning: Your house (company, organiztion, etc), used as a polite form of the second person => you

(2) Meaning in early-late 1980's: An extreme fan of anime/manga/sf who lacks communications with other people and usually untidy => nerd, fanboy [Otakus used "otaku" for "you" instead of more common "anata" "anta" and that' what gave them the title of Otaku-Zoku (otaku-race)]

(3) Current Usage: Anyone obssesed or overly interested with any subject <ex.> Car otaku, Gun Otaku, etc... => mania, freak

(2) has VERY negative meaning and (3) still carries negative meaning, unless used between otakus, of course. So use "otaku" to only other anime fans.

On the net, Otaku is usually refered to a big fan of anime and/or manga. For example, I'm an Otaku.

--From a posting by Tonghyun "Vajra" Kim

One other suggestion: Don't call anyone else an otaku unless you know how they feel about the term. Not all anime fans like being called an otaku. I'm one of those who doesn't care to have the word applied to me, though I have no problems with other fans calling themselves otaku.

-- Christina Callahan

08. What Is "H"?​

The 8th letter of the alphabet? Seriously, "H" (echi/ecchi) is a Japanese slang term for "perverted." It derives from the letter H, which is the first roman letter in the American spelling of "hentai," which is the Japanese word for "perverted." (more or less)

09. Japanese Honorifics And Terms Of Address​

Here are the most common honorifics and terms of address.

-sama Very respectful ending. Not normally used with someone's names. Used to people of superior status, like your boss, or to your guests as a host. Envelopes should be addressed with "-sama". A shopkeeper might call a customer "o-kyaku-sama" (Respected Mr. Customer).

sensei A respectful term meaning "teacher", also used with physicians. Frequently used to refer to experts in a field or people in any respected occupation. Lawyers, master chefs, fashion designers, and even some manga artists are called "sensei". Sometimes used like an honorific with a name or title, as in "kouchou-sensei" (Mr. Principal, Sir).

-san Usual term of respect. It can stand for Mr. and Ms., and is attached to either first or last names, and names of occupations like "o-mawari-san" (Mr. Policeman). You use it for strangers and people you don't know well, but are more or less the same social status. When in doubt, use "-san".

However, never use "-san" with your own name or your family members' names. Also, it shouldn't be used to refer to famous people, since a small degree of intimacy is implied.

High school girls are usually called "-san".

sempai Somebody in the same general social class, but socially superior to you. "Sempai" can also be used as an honorific.

Older students may be addressed respectfully as sempai, especially by girls.

-kun Used by a socially superior male to a socially inferior male. Familiarly used among male students and boys who grew up together. Recently, some teachers call girl students and some bosses call office ladies with "-kun", but it's still considered a masculine suffix.

High school boys are called "-kun". Girls go from "-chan" to "-san" in high school, but boys go through a period of "-kun" in between.

- Calling someone by a family name alone is being very familiar (or rough). Calling someone by given name alone is less rough, but more familiar. Using no honorific when one is expected can be an expression of contempt.

-chan Intimate form of address. Families that are close use it, and "-chan" is often used to, and by, very young children. Used with given names, abbreviations of given names, and nicknames, but not family names. Children who grow up together (like Madoka and Hikaru), may keep using "-chan" into adulthood. Note: to call a social superior "-chan" without reason is very insulting.

Family terms are also common terms of address.

(Note: One may sometimes identify a person by taking the listener's point of view, as when a man refers to himself as "father" to his children.)

[table]
[tr]
[td] Referring to Addressing
yours someone's yours (*) someone's
grandfather sohu ojii-san ojii-san ojii-san
grandmother sobo obaa-san obaa-san obaa-san
uncle oji oji-san oji-san oji-san
aunt oba oba-san oba-san oba-san
elder brother ani onii-san (o)nii-san [Name]-san
elder sister ane onee-san (o)nee-san [Name]-san[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

These six forms of address occur a lot. Children call strangers by the above family member terms, depending on whether what type of relative they consider them old enuf to be. (A good example of this is a scene recently described in this newsgroup where a child addresses a question to a young woman as "oba-san", and she responds, referring to herself as "oNEE-san".)

[table]
[tr]
[td]father chichi otou-san (o)tou-san/papa otou-san
mother haha okaa-san (o)kaa-san/mama okaa-san
younger brother otouto otouto-san [Name] [Name]-san
younger sister imouto imouto-san [Name] [Name]-san
daughter musume ojou-san [Name] [Name]-san
son musuko musuko-san [Name] [Name]-san
wife tsuma/kanai oku-san omae/[Name] oku-san
husband shujin goshujin(-sama) anata goshujin(-sama)
[Surname]-san[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Some ways of saying "you":

otaku very polite
sochira very polite
anata polite, common(*)
kimi informal masculine pronoun, common(*)
omae very informal or rough(*)
anta very informal or rough contraction
temae very rough (Note: can also mean "I")
onore very rough (Note: can also mean "I")
kisama very rough

Some ways of saying "I":

watakushi very polite
kochira very polite
watashi polite, common(*)
atakushi polite feminine contraction
kotchi polite
washi informal masculine contraction, used by old men
atashi informal feminine contraction
boku informal masculine pronoun, common, used by boys/young men(*)
uchi informal feminine
ore very informal or rough

I've marked with a * the ones that come up frequently. Learning them will make watching unsubtitled anime more pleasant, but there's no need to memorize them, all at once.

You may notice that the very rough words for "you" are often translated as curses. These are pronouns that insultingly imply the speaker's superiority. They come up often as fighting words.

- From a posting by Theresa Martin
Source and credit go to: http://stason.org/TULARC/art/anime-faq/

10. THE 100 MOST ESSENTIAL WORDS IN ANIME​

I just tought I bring this up

by David Soler

Note: Since I want this to be readable in programs with no formatting ability, I'm employing a modified romanization system. Instead of putting a diacritical marking above an "o" to indicate a doubled length, I'll write out "ou." I'm assuming that readers will be familiar with the standard romanization system. If not, any pocket Japanese-English dictionary will provide a complete explanation of Japanese romanization.

Disclaimers: This glossary contains my choice of the 100 words which I deem to be most common and/or essential in anime. Obviously, my opinion is different from that of others. Students of Japanese should also be cautioned against using this vocabulary without regard to proper context. To choose an obvious example, don't attempt curses outside of you close circle of friends. My friend Akihiko Watanabe has graciously consented to proofread my work. Of course, any errors which remain are strictly my own.

1. abunai- dangerous.
The term has a broader application in Japanese than a direct translation would suggest, being employed in situations where an English speaker would say "Duck!" or "Look out!" Another common usage is as a euphemism for "deviant," i.e. a "dangerous" relationship (abunai kankei).

2. ai- love.
If a native speaker wanted to specify romantic love, he would use the character pronounced koi (or ren, depending on the context).

3. aite- opponent.
Be careful, the word has many applications that are counter-intuitive. A more literal reading of the characters would be "the one whom I must face." As a result, the word can also refer to one's dancing partner or the person whom you are addressing in a two-person conversation.

4. akuma- Satan, Devil.
As with it's English counterparts, this word can be used figuratively.

5. arigatou- Thanks.
The full formula is arigatou gozaimasu.

6. baka- an all-purpose insult denigrating the subject's intelligence.
Depending on tone of voice and other factors, it can range in severity from "silly" to "retard." Other similar insults are aho and manuke, although manuke is more specifically "dolt, buffoon."

7. bakemono- monster.

8. be-da!- the sound made by Japanese when they perform akanbe,
a gesture of contempt made by sticking out the tongue and bringing down one lower eyelid. The gesture is analogous to a Bronx cheer or "Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah."

9. bijin- a beautiful woman.
In terms of frequency and usage, it's best likened to "babe." However, it's still acceptable in formal speech registers, so is not inherently disrespectful.

10. chigau- a verb meaning "to deviate, be different."
In standard Japanese, it's used to declare that someone is wrong. When shouted as an explanation, it's meaning is closer to "No way!" or "Don't be ridiculous!/You are SO off-base!"

11. chikara- strength, power.

12. chikusho- an exclamation of frustration,
equivalent to "Damn!" or "Shit!" Comparable exclamations are kuso (literally "shit") and shimatta.

13. chotto- a little.
Differs from its English counterpart in that it can only be used as an adverb. (The adjectival form is chiisai.) When exclaimed, it means "Hold it!" or "Cut it out!"

14. daijoubu- O.K.
Most often encountered in anime when one character inquires as to another's health.

15. damaru- be still, silent.
Most often found in its imperative form, Damare!, meaning "Shut up!/Silence!"

16. damasu- to deceive.
Often encountered in its passive form, damasareru, "to be tricked."

17. dame- bad, no good; no can do.
One very common usage is dame desu/dame da, uttered when refusing permission or indicating that something is a bad idea.

18. dare- who.
Note that certain particles placed after the word will alter its meaning, i.e. dareka-someone, anyone daremo-no one daredemo-everyone.

19. doko- where.

20. fuzakeru- to play games, fool around.
It can also be shaded by tone of voice to assume a harsher meaning, like "bullshitting" or "screw/f**k around."

21. gaki- young, immature person.
Often translated as "brat" or "punk."

22. gambaru- a literal reading of the characters would be "to adhere to something with tenacity."
A very popular term used when encouraging someone is a difficult task. Some English translations are "Hang in there!," "Don't give up!," "Do your best!," and "Give it your all!" Note: the verb phrase shikkari suru has an overlapping meaning, but slightly different connotations. Apparently, the latter term implies use of innate abilities as opposed to a conscious act of willpower. The two are generally interchangeable, though. The command forms of "gambaru" are "gambatte" and "gambare."

23. hayai- quick, fast, early.
The adverbial form hayaku means "Hurry up!" when exclaimed.

24. hen- strange, weird.
In compound noun phrases, it assumes an older meaning of "change, transformation." One such compound that's especially popular in anime is henshin, meaning "physical transformation" a la Sailor Moon and Voltron.

25. hentai-
although a hen compound, it merits a separate entry. Its classical meaning is "metamorphosis, transformation." It later came to mean "abnormality," and in modern colloquial Japanese is used almost exclusively to mean "pervert" or "perversion." When a woman insults a man in anime, she generally uses on of three terms: hentai, sukebe, and etchi. Sukebe implies "oversexed" rather than "deviant." Etchi can be quite mild in some contexts, comparable to "lewd" or "Fresh!" These three terms are often used interchangeably, especially when someone is stringing together insults. Though not as frequent, the word (o-)kama refers specifically to transvestitism and other gender-bending actions associated with homosexuality.

26. hidoi- severe, harsh.
As an exclamation, it means "How terrible!" or "That's harsh/cold!" A spoken variant is "Hide-e!"

27. hime- princess.

28. ii- good.
An older variant, still current, is yoi. Yoku is the abverbial form. Yokatta is the familiar past tense. When used as an exclamation, it can mean "That's great!," but is usually better translated as "I'm so glad!"

29. iku- to go.
Common conjugated forms are ikimashou, ikou, (Shall we go?/Let's go), ike and ikinasai (Go!/Begone!).

30. inochi- life.
There are a couple of words in Japanese which can be translated as "life," but inochi is the proper term in the more dramatic situations common in anime, such as "to stake one's life," "to take a life" and "more important than life."

31. itai- hurt, pain; painful.
A common explanation, it's equivalent to "Ouch!" A frequent spoken variant is Ite-e!

32. jigoku- Hell. Hades.

33. joshikousei- a female high school student.
That's the literal meaning, anyway. In Japan, it invariably refers specifically to a cute high school girl in a sailor uniform. That Japanese has such a compact, productive phrase for this image implies that it's an important archetype in the Japanese psyche.

34. kamawanai- regardless of.
When uttered as an exclamation, it means "I don't care!" Kamawan is a more brusque spoken variant.

35. kami- God, god.
This term can also be applied to any supernatural being with a specific domain/charge/sphere.

36. kanarazu- an adverbial prefix indicating something will happen
surely and/or inevitably. As an exclamation, it means "I swear it!" or "No matter the cost!"

37. kareshi- boyfriend.
Kanojo is the equivalent word for "girlfriend." Koibito can be applied to both sexes, but it implies a more serious relationship.

38. kawaii- cute.
More than a mere adjective, kawaii qualifies as an aesthetic and an obsession in Japan. A less common, secondary meaning is "cherished, beloved." Note: kawai sou means "How sad" or "How pitiful."

39. kedo- but, but still.
More formal variants are keredo and keredomo. The latter form is generally restricted to writing Japanese nowadays.

40. kega- wound, injury.
It's also possible to use this term to refer to a spiritual violation or defilement.

41. keisatsu- Police.

42. ki-
this term is used in countless compounds and idioms. Although there are too many to describe in detail, "ki" is generally used in two senses. One is its literal meaning of "air." The other is its figurative meaning of "spiritual essence." Many English speakers know this concept through the Chinese loan word "chi." One common compound is kimochi, the chi one bears, hence "mood."

43. kokoro- heart.
Common extensions of this meaning are "sincerity" and "spirit/willpower."

44. korosu- to kill.
Often occurring in the passive past tense (korosareta) and imperative tense (Korose).

45. kowai- to be frightful, afraid.
The exclamation Kowaii! Can be translated as either "Scary thought!" or "I'm scared!," depending on the context.

46. kuru- to come.
It's command form, Koi!, can mean either "Come here!" or "Come on!"

47. mahou- magic, magic spell.

48. makaseru- to place one's trust in someone or something,
to count on.

49. makeru- to lose.
The phrase Makeru mon ka! Means "I can't/won't give up!" or "I'll never give up!"

50. mamoru- to protect, guard.
The inflected form most commonly found in anime is mamotte ageru, "I'll protect you."

51. masaka- Can it be?; It can't be!, No!

52. matsu- to wait.
The shouted command "Wait" is "Matte (kudasai)!" or "Machinasai!" Mate! is an abbreviated form of Matte!

53. mochiron- of course, without a doubt.

54. mou- already.
As an exclamation of frustration, it means "Enough!" or "Geez!"

55. musume- young woman.
As an epithet, ko musume is stronger than a literal translation of "little girl" would suggest. When used in this sense, "girlie" or "bitch" come closer to capturing the meaning.

56. naka- a word referring to one's relations, both familial and platonic.
Nakayoku suru means "to get along." "Nakama" means "close friend(s)" or "trusted ally(-ies)."

57. nani- what.

58. naruhodo- I see.; So.

59. nigeru- to flee.
Often used in the imperative form, Nigete! or Nigero!, in which case it's best translated as "Run!" or "Get away!"

60. ningen- human; humanity.
Refers to mankind as a species, especially when contrasted with alien races, demons, elves, etc.

61. ohayou- abbreviated form of ohayou gozaimasu, "good morning."
Men have the option of using the reduced form ossu in casual speech.

62. okoru- to get angry.

63. onegai- truncated form of onegai shimasu, "I beg of you," "Please" or "Pretty please."
Without the o- prefix, it means "wish."

64. oni- demon, ogre, or any other supernatural life form inimical to mankind.

65. Ryoukai!- message received and understood-"Roger!"

66. Saa- a noncommittal reply indicating that one has understood a statement and given it serious thought.
Some possible translations are "So!," "Well!," and "Beats me!" (A good English equivalent might be the British "Innit?")

67. sasuga- a person is living up to his reputation or the speaker's personal expectations.
Yahari, on the other hand, refers to situations proceeding as expected or dreaded. (Yahari is often translated as "I knew it!" when used in exclamatory mode.) Yappari is a more casual variant of yahari. Other like terms are aikawarazu, "the same as always," and Sono touri, which means just so when employed as a response to a question.

68. sempai- anyone who is one's senior in a hierarchical organization.
The term cuts across all classes and occupations, and must be translated according to context.

69. shikashi- however, but, nevertheless.

70. shikata ga nai- an expression meaning "No help for it," "No way to avoid it," "Nothing left but to deal with it."
Shou ga nai is an abbreviated form.

71. shinjiru- to believe in.
The inflected form most frequently encountered in anime is shinjirarenai, "I can't believe it!"

72. shinu- to die.
The most common inflected forms are Shinda, "Dead.", Shinanaide!, "Don't die!", and Shi'ne!, "Die!"

73. shitsukoi- persistent, relentless,
tenacious-at the very least a constant pain in the ass.

74. sugoi- one of three common superlatives that all happen to begin with su-.
The other two are suteki and subarashii. The three are generally interchangeable. However, sugoi often expresses an admiration for someone else's power or talent, and may be mixed with a sense of dread. It can straddle the line between "awesome" and "awful." Suteki is most often applied to physical appearance. It's used most often by women, but it can be applied to both genders. Subarashii is more neutral and can be translated as "great." Although lacking the su- beginning, kakkoi is a superlative used mostly in describing people-"Cool!" Note: A spoken variant of sugoi is Suge-e!

75. suki- affection, liking.
Also used to signify "love." If anything, the phrase "Suki da." is even more ambiguous than the English "I like you."

76. suru- to do.
A frequently occurring phrase is "Dou shiyou?," meaning "(Oh,) What shall I do!"

77. taihen- when modifying an adjective, it means "extremely."
When it describes a situation without any other adjectives, it means "terrible."

78. tasukeru- to aid.
The exclamation "Tasukete kure!" = "Help me!/Save me!"

79. tatakau- to fight, do battle.

80. teki- enemy.

81. tomodachi- friend.

82. totemo- very, extremely.
It can be pronounced tottemo to indicate extra enthusiasm.

83. unmei- fate, destiny.

84. uragirimono- traitor.

85. ureshii- happy.
As an exclamation, Ureshii! Can be translated as "I'm so happy!" or even "Whee!"

86. urusai- noisy.
When used as an exclamation, it's best translated as "Be quiet!" and occasionally "Shut up!" Usse-e! is a spoken variant.

87. uso- a lie.
As an exclamation, it can mean "You must be kidding!," "You lie!," or "No way!" Spoken variants are Usso! and Ussou. The word usotsuki means "liar."

88. uwasa- rumor.

89. wakaru- to understand.
Common inflections are wakatta (understood) and wakaranai (don't understand). Note that the abbreviated forms of wakaranai are gender specific, with women favoring wakannai and men likely to say wakaran or wakanne-e.

90. wana- trap, snare.

91. yabai- miserable, wretched (situation).
As an exclamation, this can be translated as "This is bad!" or an emphatic "Uh-oh."

92. yakusoku- promise, oath.

93. yameru- to stop, quit, terminate.
The exclamation Yamero! can be translated as "Stop (it)!" or "Enough!"

94. yaru- this verb has several meanings.
It's a deferential form of the verb "to do." It's also a form of the verb "to give" reserved for gifts made to social inferiors (and plants and animals). Finally, it can mean "to try, attempt."

95. yasashii-
although pronounced the same as the Japanese word for "easy," in anime it's more likely to refer to the character for "splendid, exceptional." For example, yasashii seikaku means "good-natured" and yasashii hito means "a great guy."

96. yatta-
probably originated as the past tense of yaru, but has long since taken on an independent meaning. Used to proclaim victory or good fortune. Possible translations include "Hooray!," "Banzai!," "I did it!," and "Yay!"

97. yoshi- an exclamation used when readying oneself to take an important action.
Possible translations include "Here I come!," "All right (,then)!" Spoken variants are yosshi and yo-oshi!

98. youkai- an occult monster.
Sometimes used as a general term for occult phenomena.

99. yume- dream.

100. yurusu- to forgive, pardon.
Forms of this verb commonly found in anime are O-yurushi kudasai or Yurushite kudasai, meaning "Forgive me!" Even more common is yurusanai/yurusenai. This phrase can be literally translated as "I won't/can't forgive you!," but an idiomatic translation generally requires that attention be paid to the specific circumstances in which the exclamation is shouted or growled. "I will grant no quarter!" might work in some historical periods, but "You're finished!" would work better in most contemporary settings. Other possibilities which work in certain circumstances are "Your day is done!," "It's curtains for you!," "You're through!"...you get the idea.



A Word on Pronouns:

I was going to avoid discussing larger questions of syntax and usage altogether. Unfortunately, the pronouns a character reveal so much about personality and background that I feel obligated to try and explain them.

This aspect of Japanese is easily lost in translation, since in English they can only be translated as "I" or "you." I'm including some personal conjectures in my explanations, so please forgive any errors that may occur.

When using the first person, the Japanese speaker can choose among the following words: watashi, watakushi, atashi, boku, ore, sessha, washi, and atai. This list is by no means complete, also. All of these terms are translated "I" even though each word has different connotations.

Watashi is polite without indicating deference or formality. Boku is used by young men (and young women actively emulating male behavior). Ore is even more overtly masculine, and implies either that a man is speaking among intimates (at the least that there are no women present) or that he is aggressively macho. Atashi is strictly feminine speech. Watakushi is an older form of watashi.

Today it's considered slightly more formal, and its use indicates that the speaker is paying conscious attention to decorum. Watakushi is favored by women, but might also be used by men, especially in the service industry. Sessha is an older form, and implies courtliness and modesty. Washi is used by older men in positions of authority. Atai is associated with the lower class.

Japanese second-person pronouns include omae, onore, kisama, anata, anta, kimi, onushi, and temee. In practice, second-person pronouns are usually avoided-something possible because the Japanese language doesn't demand that the subject be included in a sentence. There are signs that Japanese teenagers and young adults are starting to use omae as an all-purpose pronoun analogous to the English "you." This practice is not entrenched in the language yet, and older usages still survive, so use omae with caution. Omae is traditionally used in conversation with someone dear to the speaker, and to many Japanese it is this romantic connotation that is the truest sense of the word. Finally omae is used as a familiar form of address, signaling that the speaker is brash, casual , and doesn't respect convention.

This assumption of familiarity can be taken as insulting. Since omae has so many different (and sometimes clashing) connotations, use it with caution. Kisama is a masculine form of address which can be openly insulting. It seems that in anime the brash, defiant hero can use omae while his villainous counterpart will use kisama to indicate his distaste for the person he is addressing. Onore was once formal usage, but is now considered rude and offensive. Anata is generally used when speaking with social inferiors, and can be made insulting by tone of voice, BUT it also functions as an endearment when a woman uses it to speak with her husband. Anta is a variant of anata used by women, and is not necessarily rude. Kimi is male speech, used when speaking to people you have direct authority over, i.e. a vice-president speaking to the secretary, or a teacher addressing a student. Kimi is also how a boy refers to his girlfriend. Onushi is archaic polite usage, and sounds quaint when used in modern speech.

Third person is easier because Japanese speech favors using title and/or surname. Aitsu and yatsu are the two third-person pronouns that come to mind. Both are extremely casual, and generally slightly insulting. (It appears that yatsu may be preferred when referring to people outside of one's social class. An absolutely neutral way of referring to some one else is ano hito, "that person."

Complicating things further is that Japanese speakers actually have a good deal of flexibility in choosing which pronouns they use. The extreme situations found in anime also lead to unorthodox usage. When Ranma changes into a woman, do his speech patterns change? Let's take Pai from 3x3 Eyes as a specific example. In her normal personality, she refers to herself as "Pai" instead of using a first person pronoun. She may be mirroring the practice of her race's native language. However, using first-name instead of a first-person pronoun is common practice in Japan among children and child-like people. That's why Pai's speech seems natural and appropriate to a Japanese speaker. Conversely, in her "Sanjiyan" mode, Pai refers to herself as washi. That's because the Sanjiyan personality is inhumanly old and powerful. Some less fantastic examples of unorthodox speech include a male homosexual using feminine speech, and a female juvenile delinquent using masculine pronouns.

Pronouns are an especially complex and frustrating part of the Japanese language, but they can impart a lot of information in a rapid and subtle fashion. This versatility in responding to different situations is one of the Japanese language's defining characteristic, adding much to the richness and character of its speech.

(End of article. I welcome people forwarding this to interested parties, asking only that the credits be unchanged. Anything else would be unfair to me and my native informant. Any comments can be addressed to [email protected] and [email protected])

Copyright 1997 David Soler

Source: http://users.tmok.com/~tumble/amfaqs/101glos.html


Please note that the guide is a heavy plagiarized text that helps you understand what the therm ANIME means. All credits go to the various authors that helped construct this guide.

 

Re: The Almost Full Guide To Anime and Anime Therms

This can help me learn Japanese.
Thanks Rock!

 

Re: The Almost Full Guide To Anime and Anime Therms

Your welcome zero. Hope this thing gets stickyed

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

That's a one big 'dictionary'.. OoO

Better make some term in bold text, so anyone can identify it easily.

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

I am edditing it as we speak. The 100 words are a pain -_-"

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

quick sticky now :O!

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms


Post Merge: [time]1266046039[/time]
Could you guys give me a feedback on the guide? What do you think of it?

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

AHHH WTF IS THIS?
you should put some kindof animes-you-cant-miss-and-have-to-watch-unless-youre-an-idiot

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

*editing number 4 to substitute it with something more consistent*
[me=rock91]doesn't pay attention to what tuna just said cuz he has a huge migraine[/me]

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

gotta love fishie

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

I don't bother to learn half those terms because they are almost unnecessary to learn.

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

Just on a quick note about the term anime. I read an update on a site before, that was detailed enough that explained that the term anime is a French word. In fact, half of Japanese anime's roots/upbringing came from France , since France and Japan co-produced a very large number of titles.

I'll think of any animation as anime, just as i would see it all as cartoons. Regardless of where it's from, it's all animation, making it fair game to be called a cartoon.

As food for thought - No one would mind calling anything from Pixar or Dreamworks a toon, right? Despite that, they're adored by those of all ages. this only means they found a means to make a mass market appeal, while its much harder to do so for most other forms of animation.

As far as a small look over the guide goes, it looks good.

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

so why did you posted ? Unnecessary flamming can result bad for you, you know. The word ''fag'' can be offensive to someone you know.
Indicate where have I got wrong then instead of criticizing, or you just want to raise your post count?
Post Merge: [time]1266149650[/time]

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Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

Great guide for most anime fan!I myself seriously depends on the subtitle when watching anime(who doesnt?)

Although you might want to add the word 'friend' in japanese since it's most commonly used.I think it's 'nakama'.

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

You clearly like Fairy Tail XD

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

Put the Kanji for the Japanese words.
And where is the Law of Super Robot Anime?

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

Sorry babe. Just the essential . You should have read better why I didn't include the kanji

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

Both of those are essential

 

Re: The Almost FULL GUIDE TO ANIME and Anime Therms

Since it's a NEWBIE's guide to anime, I doubt they would understand kanji.