Japanese for Anime

tatakau

As a rallying cry you use the command form „Tatakae!“: „Fight!“. A constant companion in every shōnen anime.

💡 Did you know? The famous chant „Tatakae! Tatakae!“ from „Attack on Titan“ embodies the characters’ raw will to survive.

korosu

The threat „Omae o korosu“ (お前を殺す) („I will kill you“) is one of the best-known villain lines of all.

💡 Did you know? Vegeta from „Dragon Ball Z“ turned „Omae o korosu“ into a genuine fandom meme.

chikara

„Motto chikara ga hoshii“ („I want more power“) is the wish that drives half of all anime plots.

💡 Did you know? The same character 力 is read „ryoku“ in compounds, such as „nōryoku“ (ability).

tsuyoi

„Tsuyoku naritai“ („I want to get stronger“) is practically the core motto of every battle-anime hero.

💡 Did you know? The opposite is „yowai“ (弱い), „weak“: a favourite taunt between rival fighters.

yurusanai

Literally „I do not forgive (this)“. Often intensified to „Zettai ni yurusanai!“: „I will never forgive you!“.

💡 Did you know? In many series the line marks the moment a character finally switches to the counterattack.

makenai

From „makeru“ (負ける), „to lose“. „Makenai!“ is the defiant shout before the decisive fight.

💡 Did you know? The encouraging „Makeru na!“ means „Don’t give up!“: literally „don’t you dare lose!“.

ike

Command form of „iku“ (行く), „to go“. Trainers and summoners send their monsters or attacks into battle with it.

💡 Did you know? „Ike, Pikachu!“ is the Japanese version of „Go, Pikachu!“ from „Pokémon“.

yamero

Blunt command form of „yameru“ (to stop). The softer, often pleading version is „Yamete!“.

💡 Did you know? „Yamete kudasai“ is the polite „please stop“: tonally miles away from the harsh „Yamero!“.

mamoru

„Minna o mamoru“ („I’ll protect everyone“) is the classic hero’s promise before the big battle.

💡 Did you know? In „Sailor Moon“ the heroine’s boyfriend is literally named Mamoru: the „protector“.

shine

Command form of „shinu“ (死ぬ), „to die“: said „shi-ne“, not like the English „shine“. A hard fight and villain line.

💡 Did you know? „Death Note“ revolves around „shi“ (死), death: from the „Death Note“ itself to the „Shinigami“, the death gods.

urusai

Literally „loud / annoying“. As an exclamation, „Urusai!“ is an irritated „Be quiet!“.

💡 Did you know? Tripled, „Urusai, urusai, urusai!“ is the famous outburst of Shana in „Shakugan no Shana“.

baka

Probably the best-known Japanese insult: sometimes venomous, sometimes teasing between friends.

💡 Did you know? „Baka“ powers the tsundere classic „B-baka!“: the flustered, red-faced „Y-you idiot!“.

sugoi

The all-purpose cry of amazement. Casually shortened to „Sugee!“, or fully thrilled „Sugoi!“.

💡 Did you know? To intensify an adjective it becomes „sugoku“: „sugoku oishii“ means „super tasty“.

nakama

More than „friends“: „nakama“ means a tight-knit group that stands up for one another.

💡 Did you know? In „One Piece“ „nakama“ is the central word: Luffy’s crew is the very embodiment of it.

ganbatte

From „ganbaru“ (to persevere, do one’s best). „Ganbatte!“ cheers someone on; „Ganbaru!“ means „I’ll give it my all!“.

💡 Did you know? „Ganbaru“ is seen as a key word of Japanese culture: endurance and never giving up are baked into it.

oni

An „oni“ is a horned fiend from Japanese folklore: a regular in fantasy anime.

💡 Did you know? „Demon Slayer“ is called „Kimetsu no Yaiba“ in the original, but its enemies are exactly these „oni“.

kisama

A hostile, condescending „you“: almost always aimed at an enemy one despises.

💡 Did you know? Curiously, „kisama“ was once a polite form of address; over time it soured into an insult.

shinigami

Literally „death-god“ (死 = death, 神 = god). A recurring motif in darker anime.

💡 Did you know? In „Bleach“ the „Shinigami“ are the heroes; in „Death Note“ it is the eerie creature Ryuk.

hissatsu

Literally „certain kill“. „Hissatsu waza“ (必殺技) is the ultimate finishing technique, often with a loud name call.

💡 Did you know? Shouting the attack’s name before using it is a lovingly over-the-top anime cliché.

senpai

A term for someone senior to you (school, club, job). The counterpart is „kōhai“, the junior.

💡 Did you know? The internet classic „Notice me, senpai!“ captures the longing to be noticed by an admired senior.