Post by Iyouboushi on Aug 20, 2008 16:39:54 GMT -6
I'm creating this thread for those out there who may not be aware of these phrases and common words heard throughout this board and in Japan. It's not going to be an all-inclusive thread, there's just too many words for that, but hopefully will touch upon some of the most common.
General
Nihon/Nippon [日本] - Japan
The country itself.
Nihongo [日本語] - Japanese
The language.
Manga [漫画] - Comic
Manga is comics. There's tons of genres, just like there are here. Manga is usually broke into two demographics: Shounen and Shoujo. See below for those definitions.
Anime [アニメ] - Animation
Typically anime is manga in animated form, though not always (as some anime movies and certain anime are not derived from manga).
Shounen [少年] - literally "Boy" -- Usually means "Boy's comic"
Shounen anime and manga is typically characterized by high-action, often humorous plots featuring male protagonists. The camaraderie between boys or men on sports teams, fighting squads and the like is often emphasized. Attractive female characters with exaggerated features are also common, but are not a requirement.
Shoujo [少女] - literally "young girl" -- Usually means "Girl's comic"
Works aimed at this target audience are generally seen as melodramatic stories of romance usually with a female protagonist, and drawn in a flowing style where beautiful characters with huge, intricately drawn eyes become spontaneously surrounded by flowers, stars, and/or bubbles. Usually more light-hearted than Shounen.
Nani [何] - what
Perhaps one of the best known Japanese phrases/words in the world. Nani literally means "what."
namae [名前] - name
Usually asked in a question, such as "namae wa nan desu ka?" (What is your name?) or used in response, "watashi no namae wa ____ desu." (my name is ____).
shinigami [死神] - Death God
Shinigami is/are the personification of death that evolved in Japan. Unlike western Death, there's usually more than one. Can look human or downright monstrous depending on the source.
kawaii [かわいい] - Cute
kowai [こわい] - frightening, eerie
tadaima [ただいま] - I'm home
okaeri [おかえり] - Welcome home
Ways of saying I
watashi [私] - I, polite
There's many words used for "I" but watashi is probably the most polite of them all.
atashi [私] - I, polite, feminine
this is the feminine form of watashi.
boku [僕] - I, more impolite/boy's version
Boku is usually used by younger boys, though in manga and anime it's used by men of varying age. It's considered much more impolite and even childish.
ore [俺] - I, rude/impolite
About as rude and cocky as you can get.
Ways of saying You
anata [あなた] - You, polite
Muchlike I, there's multiple words for "you" and each of them convey a different level of politeness.
kimi [君] - You, buddy/pal, polite
Used normally by people who really know each other. In anime/manga it can occasionally be used ironically.
omae [お前] - You, ?? mixed
Omae can be used both as honory/polite and downright mean depending on how it's used and by whom and for what reason.
temee [てまえ] - You, rude
Temee doesn't really have a very good English equivalent other than saying it's a fairly rude/downright nasty way of saying "you" (depending on how it's said).
Family Members
tousan [父さん] - Father
kaasan [母さん] - Mother
niisan [兄さん] - Older brother
neesan [姉さん] - Older sister
baasan [祖母さん] - Grandmother
jiisan [祖父さん] - Grandfather
For the family members 'chan' is usually a more familiar, relaxed way of addressing sisters and brothers. (so "niichan" instead of "niisan" for example.) Also, adding 'o' in front of any of the family members makes them much more polite (otousan for example).
Counting 1 to 10
Ichi [一] - One
Ni [二] - Two
San [三] - Three
Yon/Shi [四] - Four
There's two ways of saying four.
Go [五] - Five
Roku [六] - Six
Shichi/Nana [七] - Seven
There's two ways to say seven.
Hachi [八] - Eight
Kyuu [九] - Nine
Juu [十] - Ten
For 10 to 19 you can use juu# to make the numbers. For example, juuichi [十一] for 11. Juuni [十二] for 12. And so on.
From 20 to 100 you can combine #juu# to make the next set of numbers. For example, nijuuichi [二十一] for 21.
For 20, 30, 40, etc, you just put the first number in front of juu. Nijuu [二十] for 20, sanjuu [三十] for 30, etc.
If anyone can think of some more, make a post below and I'll add them.
General
Nihon/Nippon [日本] - Japan
The country itself.
Nihongo [日本語] - Japanese
The language.
Manga [漫画] - Comic
Manga is comics. There's tons of genres, just like there are here. Manga is usually broke into two demographics: Shounen and Shoujo. See below for those definitions.
Anime [アニメ] - Animation
Typically anime is manga in animated form, though not always (as some anime movies and certain anime are not derived from manga).
Shounen [少年] - literally "Boy" -- Usually means "Boy's comic"
Shounen anime and manga is typically characterized by high-action, often humorous plots featuring male protagonists. The camaraderie between boys or men on sports teams, fighting squads and the like is often emphasized. Attractive female characters with exaggerated features are also common, but are not a requirement.
Shoujo [少女] - literally "young girl" -- Usually means "Girl's comic"
Works aimed at this target audience are generally seen as melodramatic stories of romance usually with a female protagonist, and drawn in a flowing style where beautiful characters with huge, intricately drawn eyes become spontaneously surrounded by flowers, stars, and/or bubbles. Usually more light-hearted than Shounen.
Nani [何] - what
Perhaps one of the best known Japanese phrases/words in the world. Nani literally means "what."
namae [名前] - name
Usually asked in a question, such as "namae wa nan desu ka?" (What is your name?) or used in response, "watashi no namae wa ____ desu." (my name is ____).
shinigami [死神] - Death God
Shinigami is/are the personification of death that evolved in Japan. Unlike western Death, there's usually more than one. Can look human or downright monstrous depending on the source.
kawaii [かわいい] - Cute
kowai [こわい] - frightening, eerie
tadaima [ただいま] - I'm home
okaeri [おかえり] - Welcome home
Ways of saying I
watashi [私] - I, polite
There's many words used for "I" but watashi is probably the most polite of them all.
atashi [私] - I, polite, feminine
this is the feminine form of watashi.
boku [僕] - I, more impolite/boy's version
Boku is usually used by younger boys, though in manga and anime it's used by men of varying age. It's considered much more impolite and even childish.
ore [俺] - I, rude/impolite
About as rude and cocky as you can get.
Ways of saying You
anata [あなた] - You, polite
Muchlike I, there's multiple words for "you" and each of them convey a different level of politeness.
kimi [君] - You, buddy/pal, polite
Used normally by people who really know each other. In anime/manga it can occasionally be used ironically.
omae [お前] - You, ?? mixed
Omae can be used both as honory/polite and downright mean depending on how it's used and by whom and for what reason.
temee [てまえ] - You, rude
Temee doesn't really have a very good English equivalent other than saying it's a fairly rude/downright nasty way of saying "you" (depending on how it's said).
Family Members
tousan [父さん] - Father
kaasan [母さん] - Mother
niisan [兄さん] - Older brother
neesan [姉さん] - Older sister
baasan [祖母さん] - Grandmother
jiisan [祖父さん] - Grandfather
For the family members 'chan' is usually a more familiar, relaxed way of addressing sisters and brothers. (so "niichan" instead of "niisan" for example.) Also, adding 'o' in front of any of the family members makes them much more polite (otousan for example).
Counting 1 to 10
Ichi [一] - One
Ni [二] - Two
San [三] - Three
Yon/Shi [四] - Four
There's two ways of saying four.
Go [五] - Five
Roku [六] - Six
Shichi/Nana [七] - Seven
There's two ways to say seven.
Hachi [八] - Eight
Kyuu [九] - Nine
Juu [十] - Ten
For 10 to 19 you can use juu# to make the numbers. For example, juuichi [十一] for 11. Juuni [十二] for 12. And so on.
From 20 to 100 you can combine #juu# to make the next set of numbers. For example, nijuuichi [二十一] for 21.
For 20, 30, 40, etc, you just put the first number in front of juu. Nijuu [二十] for 20, sanjuu [三十] for 30, etc.
If anyone can think of some more, make a post below and I'll add them.