Common Words / Phrases in Anime

Anime and Manga Addict

Romajization: To indicate double length in certain words, I will use ‘ou’ instead of ‘o’ with a bar on top. Also, please note that the Japanese language has varying degree of politeness, meaning what may be an appropriate word to say to your friend, may be disrespectful when said to an older person. So please use caution. I’ll include versions of the same phrase in polite form. Also, the single ‘n’ is retained as is, and not interchanged with ‘m’ or ‘ng’. For more info on this, please read Pronouncing the Single N.

1. Abunai - unreliable, dangerous, critical; used to describe a certain circumstance or as a warning when exclaimed which means ‘Look out!’
2. Achira - there, yonder, that; used to point to far away directions or places.
3. Ai - love; can also be used as a prefix for related words like aijou (affection/beloved daugther), aikouka (lover), aikata (sadness & joy), among others.
4. Akuma - devil; or to describe a person that acts like one; the word oni can also be used and means the same thing.
5. Arigatou - ‘Thank you’; the polite form is arigatou gozaimasu.
6. Atarashii - new.
7. Atode - afterwards.
8. Baka - idiot or fool; one of the most commonly used words; the closest English translation would be ‘You fool!’ or ‘You idiot!’ .
9. Chigau - literally it means ‘to differ from’ but when exclaimed it can be used to say ‘You’re mistaken!’ or ‘You’re wrong!’; polite form would be chigaimasu.
10. Chikara - force, strength, energy, power.
11. Chotto matte - ‘Wait a moment’; the polite form is chotto matte kudasai.
12. Daijobu - ok; used to denote a state of well-being; polite form is daijobu desu.
13. Dakara - so, thefore.
14. Dakedo - however.
15. Dakishimeru - to hug someone tight; to hold someone close.
16. Doko - where; a question by itself; can be doko e? or doko desu ka?.
17. Dame - not good; can also be used to mean ’something unacceptable’ or ‘This will not do’.
18. Dare - who; can be used as a question; polite form is dare desu ka?.
19. Datte - because.
20. Demou - but.
21. Gaki - brat or kid; usually said in annoyance.
22. Ganbatte ne! - do your best or do a good job; also used when wishing someone good luck; it’s polite form is ganbatte kudasai and base form is ganbaru which means ‘I will work hard’ or ‘I will do my best.’
23. Hahaoya - mother; polite form; used to address one’s mother.
24. Hanami - cherry-blossom viewing.
25. Hai - yes; polite form is hai, sou desu (yes, it is so.).
26. Hayaku - hurry; the English translation would be ‘Hurry up!’.
27. Hentai - pervert; usually exclaimed by females when they feel a man has ‘dishonourable intentions’ ^^.
28. Hidoi - terrible or harsh; when said, it can mean ‘How cruel!’ or ‘How horrible!’.
29. Hime - princess; polite form is o-himesama.
30. Hontou - truth, reality; when spoken as hontou ni can mean ‘really’ or if hontou ni? can mean ‘really?’.
31. Hoshi - star.
32. Hoshii - wanted, wished for, desired.
33. Iie - no; it’s polite form is ‘iie’ plus the negative statement of what is being asked.
34. Iku - to go; forms would be ikimasu (I’m going), ikimashou (I shall be going) or ikimashou ka? (Will you be going?).
35. Isshoni - together; together with.
36. Itadakimasu - usually said just before eating; I don’t know the English translation but the French would be ‘Bon appetit!’.
37. Itai - painful.
38. Itsu - when or how soon; deviations include itsumo (forever/always), itsudemo (any time), itsugoro (about when).
39. Kakoi - good-looking or ‘cool’; one of the many fangirl words. ^^
40. Kami - can be used to say either paper or hair.
41. Kamisama - god.
42. Kanashii - sad or sorrowful; other forms are kanashimi (sadness/grief) or kanashimu (to be sad).
43. Kawaii - cute; in my opinion, the most used word in Japanese anime ^^.
44. Kawaisou - pitiful, poor or pathetic; often misinterpreted as having the same meaning as kawaii but they mean different things.
45. Kimochi - feelings, sensation, mood; can be combined with other related words such as kimochiii which means ‘good feeling’ or ‘feeling good’.
46. Kirei - beautiful or pretty.
47. Kochira - this way; used to point to directions or places that are near the speaker; as an exclamation, it is ‘This way!’
48. Kodomo - child.
49. Kokoro - heart; it can also mean mind or spirit.
50. Konnichiwa - ‘Good day’; used to greet someone; from the root word konnichi which means ‘today’.
51. Kotoba - word/s, language or speech
52. Kuso - profanity; English translation would be ‘Shit!’.
53. Mada - still or yet; can also mean ‘Not yet’.
54. Mahou - magic, witchcraft or sorcery.
55. Makenai - in its literal term, it means ‘I won’t lose!’; its base form is makeru.
56. Mamoru - to protect, to obey or to guard.
57. Mattaku - really, truly; usually used to express exasperation.
58. Matta ne! - ‘See you!’; a preferable phrase than sayonara because it denotes that the meeting will be soon rather than far off in the future; can also be interchanged with ja ne!; other deviations would be matta ashita (see you tomorrow) or matta raishu (see you next week).
59. Mou - already, again; when exclaimed can be ‘Enough’ or a sign of exasperation.
60. Nakama - groupmate, partner, associate, circle or friends.
61. Naruhodo - ‘I see’ or “Now I know’; can also mean ‘indeed’.
62. Ohayou - ‘Good morning’; used as a greeting; its polite form is ohayou gozaimasu.
63. Oishii - delicious or tasty.
64. Okaasan - mother; polite form; can also be reidou.
65. Okaeri - English translation is ‘ Welcome home!’; polite form is okaerinasai.
66. Oneesan - older sister; polite form; can also be ane, neesan, aneki (used if close to sibling), aneue.
67. Onegai - ‘Please’; can also be used when asking a favor from someone; the polite form is onegaishimasu.
68. Onigiri - Japanese riceball.
69. Oniisan - older brother; polite form, can also be aniki (used if close to sibling), anigo or kakei.
70. Onna - a woman.
71. Otoko - a man.
72. Otousan - father; polite form.
73. Ouji - prince; polite form is oujisama.
74. Oyasumi - ‘Goodnight’; used to wish someone goodnight usually before sleeping; its polite form is oyasuminasai.
75. Ryoukai - understanding or comprehension; English translation would be ‘I understand’, ‘Got it!’ or even ‘Roger!’.
76. Sabishii - lonely or lonesome.
77. Sakura - cherry blossom; a sacred flower in Japan and it blooms only once a year; the event is celebrated in a Sakura Festival with parades and picnics.
78. Sayonara - ‘Goodbye’; apart from its popular meaning, this usually denotes a ‘final’ goodbye, meaning that the one it is said to won’t see the other person for a very long time yet.
79. Senpai - an upper-class man, superior, elder; used to address someone of a higher level, usually in school.
80. Shiawase - happiness or good fortune; can be a prefix for other words like shiawasemono which means fortunate person.
81. Shimatta - profanity; English translation would be ‘Damn it!’
82. Shinjite - to believe, to put your trust in someone or something; has different forms like shinjitsu (truth/ reality), shinjou (true feeling) or shinjiru (to place trust in).
83. Soshite - and
84. Sou - so, really, seeming; polite form is sou desu (It is so); forms include sou desu ne? (Don’t you agree?) or sou desu ka? (Is it so?).
85. Sugoi - great or amazing; it is used to express pleasure or amazement at something; polite forms are sugoi desu! (It’s great!) or sugoi desu ne? (It’s great, isn’t it?).
86. Tadaima - English translation is ‘ I’m home!’ or ‘Here I am!’.
87. Taihen - awful, dreadful; used when describing a predicament or situation; the closest English equivalent is ‘I/We have a problem!’ or ‘Something awful has happened!’; polite form is taihen desu.
88. Tatakai - battle or combat; in its verb form it is tatakau which means ‘I will fight!’.
89. Tenshi - angel; can also mean heavenly or imperial gift.
90. Tomodachi - friend.
91. Totemo - very, awfully, exceedingly.
92. Tsubasa - wings; a word that’s prevailent in anime, especially CLAMP works ^^.
93. Umai - tasty; can be used instead of oishii but can also mean ‘clever’ or ’skillful’.
94. Ureshii - happy or glad; other forms include ureshinamida (tears of joy).
95. Uso - a lie; polite form would be ‘Uso desu’; deviations are usobuku (to exaggerate), usotsuki (liar) or usohappyaku (full of lies).
96. Yakusoku - arrangement or promise; young people sometimes interwine their little finger with another persons’ to seal their promise.
97. Yare - as an expression it means ‘Oh!’ or ‘Oh dear!’; it is also sometimes said twice in emphasis, as in ‘Yare, yare!’.
98. Yasashii - easy, plain or simple; can be used to describe a situation, event or thing.
99. Yume - dream.
100. Zettai - absolute or unconditional; can have forms of zettaichi (absolute value) among others.

That all for now! ^^ I might make a second part of this soon to cover more words I haven’t included here. Hopefully, I can find the time. ^^

Licorne @ October 8, 2005