Questions tagged [japanese-language]

For questions which are likely to require knowledge of the Japanese language to answer. Note that generic questions about the Japanese language are off-topic here. Questions with this tag must still be primarily about anime or manga.

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Why is it called "Rurouni" Kenshin? What is "Rurouni"?

The MC is called Himura Kenshin. And Kenshin is a name given to him (meaning "heart of the sword", or something similar). But I can't remember "rurouni" ever being mentioned ...
chausies's user avatar
  • 239
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is "Rasetsu"?

I come across the term "Rasetsu" in Japanese games and anime, but I can't find a specific kanji or translation of term. According to Google Translator, "Rasetsu" in Japanese means &...
Augusto Vasques's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
111 views

What did Kaku mean when he said 'assassins can never find other work'?

In the Enies Lobby Arc of One Piece, Kaku says to Roronoa Zolo 'they say assassins can never find other work' after their fight. As a native English speaker, I have never heard this phrase be used ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
71 views

Why does Mizuto say Yuni-san but Yume says Mineaki-oji-san?

You can answer either for the series in particular or for in general about Japanese culture/language. Mizuto both addresses and refer to Yuni as Yuni-san while Yume both addresses and refers to ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
0 votes
1 answer
36 views

Why does Yuni change between Mineaki-san and Mine-kun? (S01E05)

You can either answer based on the series or guess based on knowledge about general Japanese culture / language. In S01E01: Yuni addresses Mineaki as Mineaki-san. (slightly NSFW) In S01E05: Yuni ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
4 votes
1 answer
150 views

Why does Saten call Uiharu (a girl) "Kazari-kun" (her given name, which she almost never uses) when failing to find Shadow Metal?

In season 3 of the Railgun anime, episode 4 starting at 3:52 and happening at 4:15, Saten and Uiharu are working together to look for Shadow Metal in a stadium during the Daihaseisai festival. When ...
starball's user avatar
  • 507
2 votes
0 answers
213 views

What's the most popular manga rating site for the Japanese readership?

I'm thinking something along the lines of MyAnimeList but it does not have to include anime per se. I'm just interested to see how some series are viewed among the Japanese fanbase. If there isn't a ...
user9564371's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
318 views

What is the Japanese term for the CGDCT tag/genre?

What is the genre or tag in Japanese terms for CGDCT? (Cute Girls Doing Cute Things for those that are not aware)
user9564371's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

What pronouns are used to refer to Foo Fighters in the Japanese version of Stone Ocean?

I'm asking what pronouns Foo Fighters uses for herself, or what other characters use when referring to him/her in the Japanese version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 6: Stone Ocean. I am aware that ...
ashaad.montgomery's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
188 views

Why does Chika call Miyuki as 'kun' (not 'san') but Kaguya 'san' (not 'chan')? (Re anime s2 and live action 1st movie)

Chika Fujiwara calls Miyuki Shirogane as Miyuki-kun during the brief periods in s2 and the 1st live action that Miyuki isn't president. However, for the entire anime, manga and live action movies last ...
BCLC's user avatar
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-4 votes
1 answer
86 views

Why does Miku's colleague refer to Miku by last name but addresses Miku by 1st name?

From S02E10 of The Quintessential Quintuplets Above, we see that Miku is working part-time at some bakery. Yotsuba is visiting Miku at the bakery where Miku has just started working part-time. Miku's ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-5 votes
1 answer
86 views

Is Moeha the 2nd person Kaguya has addressed by 1st name only?

I ask here about how in S03E10, Kaguya addresses Moeha (Chika Fujiwara's imouto) by 1st name only after previously, in S02E02, A - expressing reluctance to do the same for Kei (Miyuki Shirogane's ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-5 votes
1 answer
91 views

How Kaguya addresses Moeha Fujiwara

In S03E10, why does Kaguya address Moeha (Chika Fujiwara's imouto) by 1st name only after previously, in S02E02, A - expressing reluctance to do the same for Kei (Miyuki Shirogane's imouto) and B - ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-1 votes
1 answer
329 views

Do new Japanese step-siblings or new step-siblings in Japan often change their last name?

From here. Mizuto Irido's dad Mineaki Irido married Yuni Ayai who is the mom of Yume Ayai. Yuni's last name changed from Ayai to Irido. For some reason Yume Ayai became Yume Irido too. Is it common ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-2 votes
2 answers
215 views

Why when being romantically affectionate do these ex-romantic partner step-siblings call each other by last name? (Motokano S01E01)

1st episode of new anime adaptation of light novel series My Stepmom's Daughter Is My Ex aka Mamahaha no Tsurego ga Motokano datta: Yume Ayai and Mizuto Irido have recently become step-siblings. ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-2 votes
1 answer
454 views

Why does Yor call Loid as Loid-san when with others?

I thought it was part of Yor's politeness trope, but this is what ConMan said: To each other, probably just Loid-san. When I said she would call him anata, I was thinking more in the situations where ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Why does Yor call Anya as Anya-san instead of Anya-chan?

In this pretend family, Yor is Anya's step-mom even though in a way Loid is like Anya's step-father in adopting Anya. I guess this is why Yor calls Anya as Anya-san? Idk.
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
4 votes
2 answers
622 views

What is a Moopie?

I’m reading Tezuka’s Phoenix, Yamato book and in it there is a species of shapeshifter called “Moopie” in the English translation. Is this just a nonsense word picked by the translator or does it have ...
Drai's user avatar
  • 292
-2 votes
1 answer
176 views

1st episode: Why does Raiha call Itsuki by 1st name (presumably without knowing the existence of the other quints until S01E04)?

What I understand is that the quints are called by their 1st names, in situations where they would normally be called by their last names, for obvious reasons (that they're quints. Extend in general ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-4 votes
2 answers
117 views

What do witches say when they refuse a repetition request (復唱 要求)? [closed]

For example Episode 18, Eva-Beatrice refuses a repetition request by saying 'I refuse!' Sounds like 'kyohi suru wa'. In episode 9, Beatrice says 'I refuse.' Sounds like 'kyohi suru'. In episode 14, ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
1 vote
1 answer
731 views

Kaiji in Kaguya-sama S03E04: Why is zawa (ざわ) translated as 'ecstasy'?

From S03E04, there's this 1 second Kaiji reference/similarity where Miko Iino's face goes nobuyuki Fukumoto-style and either Miko or the narrator or some sound effect whatever says 'zawa (ざわ)'. ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-5 votes
1 answer
530 views

Why is Kaiji referred to by 1st name while Akagi is referred to by last name?

Kaiji and Akagi similarities They are both gambling manga series written by Nobuyuki Fukumoto. They were both adapted into anime series and live action series/movies. They both have a single word ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
1 vote
2 answers
231 views

What's the katakana for the 'down' in kabedown instead of kabedon that Miyuki Shirogane 'invented'?

S01E02 Miyuki gives advice to Tsubasa Tanuma. Part of the advice includes the 'kabe-down', an original invention of Miyuki. Wait no actually as Kaguya points out it's something that's been around ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
5 votes
1 answer
695 views

Why does the narrator call Kaguya by 1st name but everyone else by either last name or full name?

(If your answer is 'because the manga does it', then I'll just convert my question about the anime to a question about the manga.) In both sub and dub, what I recall is that the narrator calls Kaguya ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
-2 votes
1 answer
305 views

What is Battler saying in Japanese whenever e asks a witch to repeat something (in red)?

It sounds like 'shoyukyu'. For example, here, in episode 18 of the anime (part of the 3rd arc of the anime, which corresponds to the 3rd episode of the VN Banquet of the Golden Witch), Battler (or ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
3 votes
1 answer
404 views

Difference between the 2 'true love' that Kaguya says

In the pilot/premiere (specifically Kaguya Wants to be Stopped, ch12 of the manga), Kaguya calls 'true love' as 真実の恋 (I think shinjitsu no koi しんじつのこい). Later in the sleep-deprived fetish episode (in ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
2 votes
1 answer
415 views

What does 'konnichi sappo' mean in episode 8 of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?

In season 1 episode 8 of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Miyuki's sister Kei and Chika say to each other 'konnichi sappo'. (A YouTube video showing the scene) What does this mean?
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
0 votes
1 answer
118 views

The Quintessential Quintuplets (aka 五等分の花嫁) : Is 届くんです (it reaches) a mondegreen that should be 五等分です (It's divided into five equal parts)?

In animesonglyrics, you can see in the season 1 opening (Gotoubun no Kimochi) for the anime adaptation of The Quintessential Quintuplets the Romaji: Go-tōbundesu, demo (...) --> the Kanji of which ...
BCLC's user avatar
  • 1,957
1 vote
1 answer
208 views

What is the document that Horikita Manabu saw in episode 4?

I was watching Classroom of the Elite on Muse Asia YouTube channel where I encountered this scene in episode 04 time ~08:22. After seeing this document, president Horikita Manabu started laughing. ...
Pranjal Doshi's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Why does Zero Two use 'boku' when referring to herself?

As far as I know, 'boku' is a male pronoun in Japanese, and is usually used by young boys. But, in the series Darling in the Franxx, the female lead character, Zero Two, consistently uses 'boku' to ...
Namaskaram's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Why are Maki and Nobara surprised by Megumi's response that Panda smells like the sun ('ohisama')?

In the "Jujutsu Stroll" short at the end of episode 5 "Curse Womb Must Die—II—" (Transcription: "Jutai Taiten—Ni—"; Japanese: 呪胎戴天—弐—), Zenin Maki asks Fushiguro Megumi ...
Namaskaram's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
937 views

What does Hanami mean by the words, "Die and become a sage"?

In Jujutsu Kaisen's episode 18 "Sage" (Transcription: "Kenja"; Japanese: 賢者), Hanami disrupts the Goodwill Event and engages Fushiguro Megumi, Inumaki Toge and Kamo Noritoshi in ...
Namaskaram's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

What exactly does Sukuna say when Itadori breaks into Mahito's Domain Expansion?

In Jujutsu Kaisen's episode 13 "Tomorrow" (Transcription: "Mata Ashita"; Japanese: また明日), when Nanami Kento is trapped in Mahito's Domain Expansion "Self-Embodiment of ...
Namaskaram's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
93 views

Why do people think people with good knife skills are hiding things?

When I was playing Tales of Graces f, if Pascal and Cheria were in the party, there would be a victory scene where Pascal would comment on Cheria's knife work and questions if she's hiding anything ...
Memor-X's user avatar
  • 39.9k
2 votes
1 answer
330 views

In Erased, why does Satoru refers to his mother as "okaasan"?

In Erased, when Satoru got transported back to 1988, he mistakenly referred to his mother as "kaasan". However, when pointed out, he quickly switches to "okaasan". Why is that? As ...
LinkedHorizon007's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
124 views

What honorific does Panda use when speaking to Yaga Masamichi?

In Jujutsu Kaisen's episode 16 "Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event—Group Battle 2—" (Transcription: Kyōto Shimai-kō Kōryū-kai—Dantai-sen ②—; Japanese: 京都姉 妹校交流会—団体戦②—), during a flashback ...
Namaskaram's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
152 views

Why is cafe pronounced "kisa" in Kobayashi's Dragon Maid?

In the first episode of Kobayashi's Dragon maid, Tohru joins a maid cafe. But, in Japanese, Tohru refers to maid cafe as "maido kisa". How does cafe become "kisa" if I consider ...
Fumikage Tokoyami's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
152 views

What does Kano mean by "having intercourse with Lukuss" in the ending of Texhnolyze?

At the end of Texhnolyze, Kano gives the following dialogue: I became free of all genes by having intercourse with Lukuss. What does the above mean? How can he have intercourse with a city? Did he ...
user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
738 views

What did White Fang tell Kakashi about Might Guy in episode 421?

In episode 421, White Fang and Kakashi meets Maito Dai and Might Guy. Kakashi kind of despises Might Guy because he didnt get into the Academy. After that, Might Guy smiles, makes a thumb up with his ...
Pablo's user avatar
  • 13.3k
0 votes
2 answers
493 views

How does Vegeta new transformation name translates to English?

I've seen over half a dozen names for Vegeta's new transformation in English. The Japanese name is 我儘【わがまま】の極意【ごくい】 (Wagamama no Gokui) but in English people calls it Ultra Ego, Mega Instinct, ...
Pablo's user avatar
  • 13.3k
1 vote
1 answer
109 views

Are Japanese watermelons crispy?

In the anime Haikyuu (second season to be specific) when Karasuno High goes to tokyo for a week for practice matches, there is a scene where some high school girls brings watermelons for the players. ...
Rick's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
1 answer
254 views

Why is "Hope and Despair" (希望と絶望) such a common theme? [closed]

It seems to be popular in a lot of Japanese writing, actually. The exact words 希望 and 絶望 are very common. Just look at Danganronpa. Anyone know the origins of such a theme, specifically of the ...
Jack Pan's user avatar
  • 1,095
1 vote
1 answer
56 views

When people talk about Princess Sapphire's male and female "hearts"... Is it possible it's supposed to be "souls"?

When people talk about Princess Sapphire's male and female "hearts"... Is it possible it's supposed to be "souls"? Because it seems that memories are tied to her "hearts",...
Malady's user avatar
  • 945
3 votes
2 answers
359 views

Why is "Uso Da!" used in Higurashi?

I haven't heard "Uso Da!" used to mean "Liar!" in any other anime from what I can remember, and when I type the phrase into google, it seems to exclusively be a Higurashi thing. ...
blake harrisonakerz's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
6k views

What is "One Piece" called in Japanese?

Attack on Titan = Shingeki no Kyojin Food Wars = Shokugeki no Soma Jojo's Bizarre Adventure = JoJo no Kimyou na Bouke Darker Than Black = Kuro no Keiyakusha Fighting Spirit = Hajime no Ippo ...
Celestial Cye's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
147 views

Why does 定命 have the furigana さだめ in the Oreimo: Kuroneko manga?

I was trying to read a raw copy of the Ore no Kouhai ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai and on the page shown below, there's this kanji, 定命: As seen, it has the furigana さだめ. However, when I tried looking ...
W. Are's user avatar
  • 8,961
1 vote
1 answer
778 views

What is the Japanese term for an old man/grandpa who is into anime/is otaku?

Is there a casual/slang term in Japanese for an old geezer who's a hardcore otaku? I know terms like erojiji and such but there are more referred to old men who are just perverted in general, but what ...
Baten's user avatar
  • 11
-3 votes
3 answers
8k views

What is the difference between "weeb", "weeaboo", and "otaku"?

I would like to know why people would like being called a weeb instead of an otaku and why there is so much drama about "weeb", "weeaboo", and "otaku".
DarkSpector's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
182 views

What is the significane of 8 in Anime and Manga?

I have recently noticed 8 is a pretty common number in the manga I have been reading. Like Samurai 8 and Kaiju NO.8 have the number in their title. There are also 8 gyms in pokemon. Like the number 8 ...
Adarsh Payyavula's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
412 views

Are some unusual honorifics used in Shougeki no Soma actually used in regional dialects?

I noticed some unusual honorifics used in the Shokugeki no Soma anime series: Yuki Yoshino tends to use "-cchi", as in "Erinacchi" or "Takumicchi" Terunori Kuga tends to ...
JW8's user avatar
  • 213

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