Japanese For the Curious 101

On this page you will find a useful list of Japanese phrases. Some of them are used a lot in anime, some in day-to-day conversations, and some were just added in because I enjoyed doing so and they will probably come in handy if you ever go to Japan...or bump into another Japanese enthusiast otaku like yourself.

Enjoy!

Useful Japanese Phrases

Common Anime Phrases
Boku/Ore/Watashi wa sonna jikan wa nai. There's no way I have the time (for this/that).
Onore/Teme/Kisama Very derrogative ways to say "you"; basically, You bastard!!
Yarou, Bakayarou Bastard, Stupid bastard
Shiriai Someone you know, someone who has a relation to you. (Watashi no shiriai desu. It's my friend, my relation.)
Koibito Lover
Aishiteru I love you.
Henna/Henn Weird
Tomodachi, Nakama Friend, Companion
Dare desu ka Who is it?
Doko desu ka Where is it?
Nan desu ka/Nani/Nani o What is it?/What?
Nan demo nai (It's) nothing./Nothing at all.
Tasukete Help! (Literally, Save me!)
Hentai/Sukebi Pervert
Bouzu Derrogatory way to address a priest (See Inu Yasha).
Ogyaku-sama Customers, persons who have done business with the particular establishment.
Kudasai Please (Only used after verbs. To just say, "Please", the word to use is onegai.)
Jiji Old man - literally "grandfather" (slang, less respectful) Ojiisan = more formal, Ojiisama = extremely formal
Baba Old woman - literally "grandmother" (slang, less respectful.) Obaasan/Obaasama - Refer to above.
Oneechan/san/sama Used to address a slightly older girl in increasing degrees of formality - literally "older sister"
Oniichan/san/sama Used to address a slightly older boy - literally "older brother"
Ogaasan/sama Mother/older woman (Ofukurou is used in extremely formal situations, such as when your mother happens to be an empress or a woman of very high status.)
Otousan/sama Father/older man
Hontou ni?/Hontou? Really? (Can also be used as a verifying statement: Hontou (desu).)
Omoishiroi Interesting (Used a lot in Rurouni Kenshin, Naruto, basically any anime.)
Hoshii I want it.
Motto More, again
Mada Already, just, only (varies depending on context.)
Maa Well... (Maa, maa means Come on, now/Calm down.)
Ja Then.../Well, then... (Ja, ikimashoo Well, then, let's go.)
Saa Come on!/Well, then! (Saa, saa! can be used as a taunt to provoke your opponent into action during a fight)
Tatakai Opponent/Enemy
Warawa nai Don't laugh (at me, her, etc.)
More to come later! For now, study some particles!

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