Level Up Your Anime Experience: 10 Japanese Words & Phrases to Know
Learn the Language Behind Your Favorite Shows // Top Japanese Phrases for Watching Anime
There are many unique terms used by anime characters and fans.
Among the expressions that are useful for watching anime, many are internet slang or expressions unique to anime fans. Many such words have unique meanings and nuances that differ from those found in dictionaries.
This article introduces 10 expressions that are useful for watching and enjoying anime.
It is very common these days for internet slang to be used in the dialogue of characters in anime and knowing these expressions will help you enjoy anime even more!
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Toutoi
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Senpai
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Numa
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Taso
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Upotsu
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || …shika katan
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || 88888
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Kusa
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Furagu
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Naka-no-hito
Top 10 Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || FAQs
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Toutoi
The word 尊い とうとい toutoi has become popular in Japan in recent years. It literally means noble, precious and holy, but in recent anime culture, this term is used to show your appreciation for something.
A little while ago, 萌え もえ moe was so popular but moe is no longer in use.Moe was mainly used by male otaku to show affection to female characters. Toutoi, on the other hand, is used by both males and females.
This expression is sometimes used as a line by anime characters to express admiration or adoration for others. It is even used with the same nuance as the English word awesome.
あのキャラ、尊い。
あのキャラ、とうとい。Ano kyara, toutoi.
That character is adorable.
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Senpai
In most Japanese anime, the setting is often a high school.
Senpai 先輩 せんぱい refers to someone who is senior in grade.
Younger students refer to older students as senpai. In anime, the term also conveys admiration or respect, especially when characters look up to someone.
先 せん means earlier or first, and 輩 はい means a fellow or a comrade. So the term may be used in the workplace or in the local community.
Because of Japan’s respect for social order, all people who are older or have more experience than you can be called senpai. Conversely, junior fellows are referred to as kouhai (後輩 こうはい .
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Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Numa
Obsession is called 沼 ぬま numa in modern Japanese.
The term literally means a swamp and The way they are stuck in the swamp, unable to get out, is used as a metaphor for being passionate about something.
To become engrossed in something is called being 沼にハマる ぬまにハマる numa ni hamaru – swamped.
Numa may also be added to a name to indicate general fan activities in its areas. For example, being addicted to Evangelion, watching many episodes and collecting goods is called エヴァ沼 エヴァぬま Eva-numa.
In many cases, this is said in relation to activities that cost money, such as buying goods or participating in events. Becoming a fan of a certain work or character is called numa-ochi (沼落ち ぬまおち .
エヴァ沼に落ちた。
エヴァぬまにおちた。Eva-numa ni ochita.
I became a fan of Evangelion.
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Taso
Taso タソ is a corrupted form of chan ちゃん , a term of endearment given to girls.
ちゃん got corrupted into タン first, then タン became タソ due to the similarity of the letters ン n and ソ so. This is used as a term of endearment to call out to one’s favorite character.
カレンタソ、尊い。
カレンタソ、とうとい。Kalen taso, toutoi.
Karen is extremely attractive.
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Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Upotsu
Upotsu うぽつ is an expression of thanks to the person who uploaded videos on YouTube, Niko Niko Douga and so on.
Up is upload and otsu is an abbreviated form of otsukaresamadesu.
While Upotsu is a literal fan expression for the person who uploaded the video, otsu おつ for otsukaresama often appears in verbal conversation.
自演乙 じえんおつ jien otsu is frequently used to make fun of someone doing a put up-job. A put up-job is called in Japanese 自作自演 じさくじえん – to make it yourself and perform it yourself.
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || …shika katan
…しか勝たん しかかたん shika katan is an expression used to describe one’s support and admiration. This means that it is the best. It literally means only … can win.
For some reason, this expression has been in use for some time, and it seems that the term was originally used among idol fans, but has come to be used by anime fans as well. Because of its origin, a certain number of anime fans do not like the expression that much.
鹿しか勝たん
しかしかかたんShika shika karan.
Deer are the best.
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || 88888
8 is hachi or pachi in Japanese and onomatopoeia for clapping is “pachi-pachi-pachi. So, 88888 reads pachi-pachi-pachi and means clapping. This is often used as slang for clapping in the comments section of video sites.
Nico Nico Douga in Japan is characterized by the flow of comments on the screen where the video is displayed; a comment culture different from that of YouTube has developed, and this expression of applause is one such example.
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Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Kusa
In Japanese, to laugh is Warau 笑う わらう . Since the Internet began to spread, emoji and other pictograms have come to be used to express feelings that cannot be expressed by text alone.
To indicate that you are amused or in fun, w was added to the end of sentences, which stands for warau. Eventually it became common to add a few ws like www.
It looks like a bush, so now the word 草 くさ kusa – grass is used instead of www. Originally Internet slang, it is sometimes even used verbally in live streaming and in anime dialogue.
犯罪で草
はんざいでくさHanzai de kusa.
He’s doing the crime, it’s funny.
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Furagu
Furagu フラグ is Japanese reading of flag.
This term is used to refer to foreshadowing in manga, movies, etc., in which the future development of the story is predictable. It refers to a typical performance in which we can predict to some extent what is going to happen in the story, or a kind of clichéd development.
死亡フラグ
しぼうフラグShibou furagu
Situations in which it is foreseeable that a character will die.
負けフラグ
まけフラグMake furagu
Situations in which it is foreseeable that a character will lose.
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || Naka-no-hito
Naka-no-hito 中の人 なかのひと means a person inside and in the context of anime, this means a voice actor who is responsible for that character.
Fans often use this term when discussing a character’s performance, sometimes expressing admiration for how well the “naka-no-hito” portrays the personality and unique traits of the character.
中の人などいない。
なかのひとなどいない。Naka-no-hito nado inai.
There is no such thing as a voice actor.
Top 10 Japanese Words and Phrases for Watching Anime || FAQs
What does 草 (くさ ) mean?
It is an Internet slang for “laughter.”
Do Japanese people use the term “moe” even today?
No. “Moe” sounds obsolete now. Now people say “toutoi” to mean what moe meant before.
How do you call Japanese voice actors on the Internet?
Voice actors are called “中の人 [なかのひと], inside men” by anime fans.
What does Taso (タソ) mean?
Taso is an altered form of chan ちゃん , a term of endearment given to girls. ちゃん was changed into タン first, then タン became タソ due to the similarity of the letters ン n and ソ so.
What is “furagu?”
It is Japanese reading of “a flag.” It refers to a typical performance in which we can predict to some extent what is going to happen in the story.
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