10 Useful Japanese Words in Anime (VII) - FIGHTING

Today’s theme is… FIGHTING related words!

Fights, battles and conflicts in general are  a very central part of most anime, manga and video games. I’m sure you’ll be able to hear at least one of these words in just about every episode you watch, especially if it’s some kind of shounen genre or action, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.

Sorry I haven’t written in a while, by the way. Just too many life-related things bothering me at the moment. And laziness. Laziness is always a big problem for me. But right now, I’m back in business! I think you should be able to expect more posts from me in the coming days, too.

1. TATAKAI/TATAKAU = a fight or battle (noun)/to fight (verb)

Example: “shin no tatakai wa… kore kara da!” = “The real battle… begins now!” Yeah, it’s from Super Smash Bros. Melee; Roy (one of my favourite characters ^^!) says it if you win a fight.

2. KENKA = fight, quarrel

Example: “saikin kanojo to kenka bakkari” = “Lately I’ve been fighting a lot with my girlfriend.”

3. SHOUBU = fighting match

shoubu is the kind of fight you have to determine who is the winner, who is the better.

4. KACHI/KATSU = victory (noun)/to win (verb)

Example: “konkai wa boku no kachi da ne!” = “It’s my victory this time, isn’t it?” Another victory quote from SSBM. This one’s from Marth.

5. MAKE/MAKERU = defeat (noun)/to lose (verb)

Example: “makeru wake ni wa ikanai nda!” = “I mustn’t lose!”

“makerarenai!” = “I can’t lose!” (both mean approximately the same thing)

6. KOROSU = to kill

Example: “omae wa korosu” = “I will kill you.” I believe Heero from Gundam Wing says this quite frequently, lol.

Variation: “bukkorosu” = “to beat to death”, to “seriously” kill someone

7. YARU = to kill, to do someone in (in some contexts only; normally this just means “to do”)

Example: “yachimae!” = “Kill them!”

8. KOUGEKI = an attack, an offensive

kougeki is often used to indicate a “move” in fight scenes and games. “tokubetsu kougeki” = “special move”

9. NIGERU= to escape/to run away

Example: “hayaku nigeru nda!” =”You’ve got to get away, quickly!”

10. DAIJOUBU = all right, safe

Example: “daijoubu desu ka!” = “Are you all right?”

March 21st, 2010 | Category: 10 Useful Anime Words, All Posts, Battle Expressions, Common Expressions, Easy, Nouns, Verbs, Vocabulary | 4 comments

10 Useful Japanese Words in Anime (III) - VERB EXPRESSIONS

Yep, making these is strangely addictive. Hope they’re not too boring ^^; I’ll be getting back to more regular sound clipping sooner or later.

Today’s theme is… VERBS! To be more precise, verb expressions (those commonly found in anime). Because they’re commonly found in anime, most of these phrases are used very casually only. Use in “real life” at your own risk.

1. YATTA! = I/we did it!

Example: Shouted out loud when a character wins a game, race, defeats an enemy, etc.

2. SHIMATTA! = damn it!

Example: Often said out loud in the heat of the moment when someone makes a serious mistake or lets something bad happen to them unexpectedly. Not for when someone stubs their toe or loses a game/fight/etc.

3. HOTTOITE/HOTTOKE! = leave me alone/get lost!

Example: The first expression is a slightly softer or more pleading tone than the latter. First might be used when someone has suffered a loss or is in a bad mood (“please leave me alone”); second would be when someone just doesn’t want to be bugged, period (“get lost!”)

4. KOI! = come!

Example: “kochi e koi!” = “get over here!” Used towards an enemy or otherwise inferiorly-treated person.

5. DAMATTE/DAMARE! = be quiet/shut up!

Example: When another character really should not be saying whatever they’re saying.

6. ~ SHIRO/SHINASAI! = do ~! (loosely)

Example: “ii kagen ni shiro!” = “cut it out!” (lit. “do it moderately”)

Another example: “kakugo shiro yo” = “prepare yourself!”

7. MATTE! = wait!

Example: “chotto matte!” = “wait a second!”

8. SHINE/SHINJIMAE! = die!

Example: When going for the killing blow.

9. OKOTTERU = to be upset (at someone/something)

Example: “mada okotteru?” = “are you still mad?”

10. CHIGAU! = no! You’re wrong!

Example: Often shouted out loud when someone is accused of something they didn’t do or said to be something they aren’t.

March 11th, 2010 | Category: 10 Useful Anime Words, All Posts, Common Expressions, Easy, Verbs, Vocabulary | 2 comments

Conversation:

唯子『ち、ちょっとっ、立夏(りつか)くん、待ってよ！もう何(なに)よ, 急(きゅう)に走(はし)り出(だ)して、どうしたの？』
立夏『うざいんだよ、先生(せんせい)なんかに心配(しんぱい)されんのが』
唯子『どう言(い)うこと？急に先生の前(まえ)でニコニコ笑(わら)うんだもん、びっくりしちゃった。全然(ぜんぜん)違(ちが)う人(ひと)みたい!』
立夏『言うなっ！二度(にど)と言うな』
唯子『な、何のこと？』
立夏『あんたといたくない』

Yuiko: ch,chotto, Ritsuka-kun, matte yo! mou nani yo, kyuu ni hashiridashite, doushita no?
Ritsuka: uzai nda yo, sensei nanka ni shinpai saren no ga
Yuiko: dou iu koto? kyuu ni sensei no mae de nikoniko warau nda mon, bikkuri shichatta. zenzen chigau hito mitai!
Ritsuka: iu na! nidoto iu na
Yuiko: na, nan no koto?
Ritsuka: anta to itakunai

Yuiko: “H, hold on, Ritsuka-kun, wait a second! Why’d you start running all of a sudden? What’s wrong?”
Ritsuka: “It’s annoying, making someone like sensei (teacher) worry about me.”
Yuiko: “What d’you mean? You were suddenly all smiling and laughing in front of sensei, I was kinda surprised! Like a totally different person!”
Ritsuka: “Don’t say that! Don’t say that ever again.”
Yuiko:  “W, what?”
Ritsuka: “I don’t want to be with you.”

Yep, it’s a long one. I really like this conversation between the aloof, high-strung Ritsuka and the obliviously cheerful Yuiko. I wasn’t sure how to break it up so I just took the whole thing!

This conversation is actually quite easy to understand with a basic knowledge of Japanese grammar and some common vocab. I’ll just point out a few of the trickier items:

saren no ga = “sareru no ga.” “sareru” is the passive form of “suru” (to do). It means “to make something happen to someone (often something bad).” So “shinpai sareru” means “to make someone worry.” “sareru” in this case has been condensed into “saren” just for the sake of convenience (easier to pronounce with the “no” sound).

nikoniko/bikkuri are onomatopoeic words and also kind of slangish or childish, making Yuiko sound more like a grade school kid.

mitai literally means “want to see.” However, it is used in this context to mean “like” (similar, just like).

shichatta = past tense of “shichau.” A variant form of “suru/shita” that basically emphasizes that the action was irreversible, unintentional, unexpected, etc.

Ritsuka Aoyagi

Ritsuka Aoyagi

Yuiko Hawatari

Yuiko Hawatari

Listen to this dialogue between two Loveless characters!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

chotto = (lit. “a bit”) wait, just a second

matte = wait

kyuu ni = suddenly

hashiridasu = to start running

doushita no = what’s wrong?

uzai = (slang) annoying

nanka = someone/something like that

shinpai sareru = to make (someone) worry

nikoniko = smiling/happy

warau = to smile/laugh

bikkuri suru = to be surprised

zenzen = totally

chigau = different

hito = person

mitai = just like

nido to = a second time, “again”

anta = you

itakunai = (negative present tense of “iru”) = don’t want to be

March 2nd, 2010 | Category: Advanced, All Posts, Conversations, Conversations, Intermediate, Loveless, Series, Verbs | One comment

“damasarenai zo”/”I won’t be tricked!”

騙(だま)されない、だまされないぞ
damasarenai, damasarenai zo

“damasarenai” is the negative causative form of “damasu” (to trick). Yep. Okay, causative means that it transforms “damasu” from “to trick” to “to be tricked.” In case you’re wondering, “damasaru” is the ordinary causative. Let’s go through this step by step…

damasu (to trick) => damasaru (to be tricked) => damasarenai (not to be tricked)

“zo” is just a thing that guys (and very tough girls) add to the end of sentences to make what they’re saying sound stronger, more firm, more serious.

Listen to Oz from Pandora Hearts say “damasarenai, damasarenai zo”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

damasarenai = won’t be tricked/deceived

zo = (masculine emphasis)

February 2nd, 2010 | Category: All Posts, Intermediate, Pandora Hearts, Verbs | 4 comments