Is learning Japanese by watching anime really effective? Or will you just learn a lot of slang words and conversations that heroes have during battles?
Anime can indeed be a great help in learning Japanese (though definitely not the main resource). In particular, it can help you get used to casual everyday conversations in Japanese, which won't surprise you once you arrive in Japan.
To begin with, we have collected for you a set of words that you can often hear both in anime and in real life.
Greetings!
Some of the first words you absolutely must learn in any language are greetings. There are a couple of anime genres in particular that would be most useful for this practice, such as anime about school or those depicting the daily lives of the characters.
Here are some basic words of greeting and farewell.
Ohayo: "Good morning"
Konnichiwa: A universal greeting, often translated simply as "Hello"
Konbanwa: "Good evening"
Oyasumi: "Good night"
Mata ne: “See you!” sometimes you will also hear “mata ashita!”, which means “See you tomorrow!”
Tadaima: "I'm home!" they say when you come home
Okaeri: “Welcome back,” said in response to tadaima.
If you want to learn more about this, we have an entire article dedicated to greetings in Japanese.
Famous Quotes in Japanese
When a difficult period comes, we look for some fresh ideas that can bring us out of our stupor and give us a good shake. The Japanese have always been famous for their special attitude towards life and its adversities - just look at the famous samurai code of Bushido. Let's plunge into the very special and calming wisdom of the Land of the Rising Sun. We dedicate this article to expressions, idioms and quotes in Japanese .
残り物には福がある。 Nokorimono ni ha fuku ga aru. Leftovers are sweet.
夏炉冬扇。 Karoto:sen. Useless things (literally “stove in summer, fan in winter”).
花鳥風月。 Kacho:fu:getsu. The beauty of nature (literally “flowers, birds, wind, moon”).
起死回生。 Kishikaisei. Rescue of the doomed.
自業自得。 Jigo:jitoku. What goes around comes around.
猿も木から落ちる。 Saru mo ki kara ochiru. And the old woman has a blast (literally, “even monkeys fall from trees”).
蓼食う虫も好き好き。 Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki. Tastes could not be discussed.
蛙の子は蛙。 Kaeru no ko ha kaeru. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree (literally, "a frog's child is a frog").
知らぬが仏。 Shiranu ga hotoke. Ignorance is bliss.
猫に小判。 Neko ni koban. Throwing pearls before swine (literally “coins before cats”).
猫に鰹節。 Neko ni katsuobushi. Let the goat into the garden (literally “[entrust] the cat with fish [guard]”)
七転び八起き。 Nanakorobiyaoki. The vicissitudes of fate.
三日坊主。 Mikkabo:zu. Bonza for three days (about those who quickly quit what they started).
Baka ha shinanakya naoranai . The grave will correct the hunchback (literally, “the grave will correct the fool.”)
出る杭は打たれる。 Deru kui ha utareru. They hit the protruding pile (about payment for originality).
雨降って地固まる。 Ame futte ji katamaru. Everything that does not kill us makes us stronger (literally, “after the rain the earth hardens”).
油を売る。 Abura wo uru. Beat your thumbs.
竜頭蛇尾。 Ryu:to:dabi. A loud beginning and an inglorious end (literally “the head of a dragon, and the tail of a snake”).
十人十色 。 Ju:nintoiro. How many heads, so many minds (literally “ten people - ten flowers”).
一石二鳥。 Issekinicho:. Two birds with one stone (literally “kill two birds with one stone”).
我田引水。 Gaden'insu. Pursuing one’s own interests (literally “carrying water to one’s field”).
海老で鯛を釣る。 Ebi de tai wo tsuru. Sacrificing little for more (literally “catching sea bream with crayfish”).
河童の川流れ。 Kappa no kawanagare. Everyone has failures (literally, “even a merman can be carried away by the current”).
月と鼈。 Tsuki to suppon. Heaven and earth (about the big difference).
石の上にも三年。 Ishi no ue ni mo sannen. Patience and work will grind everything down (lit. “[ready] to [sit] on a rock for at least three years”).
頭隠して尻隠さず。 Atama kakushite shiri kakusazu. He hid his head, but his butt sticks out (about ineptly hiding something).
馬の耳に念仏。 Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu. Like a pea against a wall (literally “a prayer in a horse’s ear”).
一期一会。 Ichigoichie. Any meeting is only once in a lifetime (the principle of the tea ceremony, expressing the uniqueness of every moment).
三人寄れば文殊の知恵。 Sannin yoreba, Monju no chie. One head is good, but two is better (literally “if three come together - the wisdom of the bodysattva Monju”).
縁の下の力持ち。 Ennoshita no chikaramochi. A person whose efforts are not visible to anyone (literally “hero in the cellar”).
魚心あれば水心。 Uogokoro areba, mizugokoro. As it comes back, so will it respond.
If you liked this article, then look at similar material on our website: Japanese phrases that completely coincide with English and Russian
We really liked the expressions we found in the article, what about you? For those who already know Japanese at a good level, they will help expand their vocabulary, and for everyone else they will allow them to feel the wisdom of the Japanese. We wish you success in learning Japanese!
Quotes in Japanese with translation and hieroglyphs will be of interest to all students of the Japanese language. Read the most famous quotes in Japanese on our website.
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Nominal suffixes
You may have come across nominal suffixes before and know how important they are when communicating with people in Japan. Anime and manga can be a great way to get a general understanding of all types of suffixes, but be careful when using them as it can be easy to come across as rude if you make a mistake.
-chan , -kun and -san are the most famous nominal suffixes. -san is the most common form, reflecting respect for people, as well as a universal address when meeting for the first time. -chan and -kun are used when communicating with friends and children, indicating affection for someone you already know well. Their main difference is that -chan is most often used when addressing girls, and -kun when addressing boys.
-sensei : literally translates to "teacher/educator" and is also used when addressing doctors.
-sama : a nominal suffix that expresses the utmost respect and is used more often to address clients (お客様, o-kyaku-sama o-kyaku-sama) or deities (kami-sama kamisama, "God").
-dono : The literal translation is "my lord" or "master", but this does not mean that the person addressed this way is necessarily of noble birth. You'll often hear this treatment in historical anime (especially samurai ones). Although it is rarely used these days, you may see it in commercial correspondence or on certificates.
-senpai : used to address senior classmates or senior colleagues.
There is also tomodachi kotoba (友達言葉, informal communication), which indicates intimacy with another person. The most common of them are: -rin and -pyon, when addressing women, and -tan and -ppe, when addressing women.
If you're interested in the origin and use of suffixes in Japanese, you can learn more about it in our article on noun suffixes, which will help you understand more when watching anime!
Cool phrases from anime
— What does snow turn into when it melts? - It turns into spring... (Fruit basket) All ages are submissive to love, but not all organs (Jiraiya about a patient) Even if there is a lot of bad things that you cannot forget, a new morning will still come, and therefore you should not suffer , carrying this within me... In the end, the whole world revolves around me! © Miami Guns Art requires sacrifices, and every day there are more and more of them. (Deidara) Vodka is the enemy of shinobi, and shinobi are not afraid of enemies. (Who else but the Konoha shinobi?) Mada Mada Dane is Rema's favorite line from The Prince of Tennis. (Study, study and study again) When I see Ino, my heart beats against my pant leg (Sai) Only those who are ready to be shot have the right to shoot! You're so smart, doesn't your skull weigh on you? (Shikamaru) Oh my frantic mistress, it is not a good idea to attack a bear with a wooden sword, and even in the forehead. © Kamen no Maid Guy I apologize if I interrupt your violent paranoia. © Ouran Koukou Host Club Collect 10 maid medals and get a disability. © Kamen no Maid Guy Knock! And they will dig you up! (Hidan) If you have no problems, then you are already dead. (Hidan) And we will make the devil cry (Devil May Cry) People cannot receive anything without giving something in return. You must pay something of equal value for what you want to receive. (FMA) I don’t even have a body to feel the rain falling... (Full Metal Alchemist) If you pass by, pass by. (Kakashi to Guy) You can't buy a friend, but you can sell him. (Kakuzu) Knowledge is power. But there is strength - no need for intelligence (Naruto) Conscience? Holy, holy, unclean! (Orochimaru) Although you have huge tits, you are a true friend! © Kamen no Maid Guy I want to live forever. So far it's working. (Orochimaru) It’s not enough to say something stupid, you have to believe it (Naruto) It’s good where we are not. It’s bad that we are not where it’s good. (Akatsuki) I will kill for you, I will die for you…. - The sky of Iria, or the summer of UFOs... We were left without breakfast, but with ghosts? © Wagaya no Oinari-sama A smile will help in any situation... even if it is fake (Naruto) There is no such thing as eternal life © Hellsing You learn from mistakes, you heal after mistakes (Kakashi) Life without a goal... is tantamount to a slow death. You can't make such bad jokes just because you're dead, Majesty! © Yakite Japan Born happy never knows happiness - Shuffle! Memories... I don’t read newspapers, I appear in them, okay? © Miami Guns Senpai, stop growing mushrooms in other people's pantries! © Ouran Koukou Host Club Why talk about you, let's talk about pleasant things! (Sai) Of course, it would be nice to turn on the brain too! You may not know it, but a wooden sword cannot cut a log. © Kamen no Maid Guy It's good when a dog is a friend, but it's bad when a friend is a dog. (Kiba) There are no coincidences in the world. The future is always predetermined - xxxHOLiC, CLAMP Good defeats evil... with its own weapons. (Naruto) A person who knows what pain is treats others better - Kaji from NGE I am you! Haven't you noticed yet? © Ergo proxy How much meaning...even too much © Ouran Koukou Host Club Wallets are not nailed to coffins (Kakuzu) It is a man's duty to forgive the lies of a woman Sanji One Piece As long as I live, your future will be bright! Whether you want it or not! © Kamen no Maid Guy Fake tears can hurt others, but a fake smile only hurts you. Only your stupid imagination can come up with such insignificant excuses! © Miami Guns The present is so important because it exists only now. - Haibane Renmei... Suzaku! I have long but dirty hands! In general, this nonsense is just a materialization of what is hidden in your heart. © Kamen no Maid Guy Why live if you have no purpose? (Naruto) If you are a nonentity yourself, you need someone even more insignificant - Elven Song. There is no meaning in life, the point is to find something to do - Orochimaru from the anime Naruto There is no sin for one who knows about his sin. - Haibane Renmei... Leave the toilet by the sound of water! (Inscription in the Academy toilets) And you went on a drinking binge, to a lemonade bar? © Yakite Japan To get something, you need to give something of equal value © alchemist Precision is the politeness of a ninja. (Tenten) This kawaii element is so fucking scary right now! © Ouran Koukou Host Club A cat with topographic cretinism! © Fairy Tail — If happiness has a form, what is it? - It's like glass. Because they usually don't notice it. But it certainly exists. After all, if you look at it from a different angle, the glass will begin to reflect light. And what you can see inside... is proof of that. Code Geass Is she as perfect as a spherical horse in a vacuum? © Nurse Witch Komugi Look at the moon, it's beautiful... Although it doesn't shine, it only reflects light, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful? (Shinigami no ballad) She suddenly squealed and ran, and then met a wall. © Kamen no Maid Guy If the King doesn’t move, neither will his subjects. Such a beautiful world, and I seem to be floating away from it... from the work of Makoto Shinkai Kanojo To Kanojo No Neko Learning is light, and you have to pay for light. (Iruka) Choice is always only a compromise or a selfish move in one's own interests. The only way. (Hana Yori Dango) In essence, only money returned Yao to civilization. © Miami Guns I will destroy you because I am justice! © Death Note There is always something more important than our dreams - everyone knows who said it) If you are hurt, you can sleep, but if you are hurt, you will not be able to sleep (Full Metal Alchemist) There is evil in this world, born from good, as there is good, born from evil... In this world, only the inconstancy of the heart is a constant (Howl's Moving Castle) I hate butterflies. I hate them for their beauty. I hate it because they are so easy to catch. And most of all I hate butterflies because such ideal beauty emerges from an ugly cocoon. — Sobi (Loveless) Life is the beginning of death. Death is a continuation of reality. The path to rebirth is giving up dreams...a smile is always deceiving...the truth always hurts... - Ayanami Rei from The End of Evangelion. Kindness does not lead to good. (Akatsuki Leader) Everything happened because of my kindness and your blackmail. © Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan! Toby was not friends with soap, and as a result he became a moron. (Deidara) - If I eat sweets, I'll get fat. -If you eat sweets and think at the same time, you won’t get fat (Death note) What a pity that you are finally leaving... (Kakashi to Guy) Never give up... Standing up when everything has collapsed is real strength (Naruto) I’m hungry! - Shut up, you stupid monkey. © Saiyuki How many lieutenants? How many captains? “That doesn’t change the fact that I will save her!” © Bleach We are not conquered until we ourselves want it - Ritsu-sensei (Loveless) He who knows pain himself treats people better - this is not weakness (Evangelion) The god of a two-hour detective drama has descended upon us! © Wagaya no Oinari-sama Even if we are born in different worlds, the world that belongs to the two of us will never change. I always thought that the world is where the waves of a mobile phone reach (Voices of a Distant Star) Why did I give up so quickly? Because a rotating pyramid is flying towards us! © Yakite Japan Only the purebloods themselves know about the possibilities of purebreds. If you don’t make up your mind, they will decide for you © Kaiji Don’t break away from the team or the team will turn on you (Akatsuki) Our president is in deep culture shock! © Ouran Koukou Host Club While you're like this, my morning angel of empty bottles. © Shakugan no Shana You can always die, but life requires courage - Rurouni Kenshin^^ Place your hand on your bare chest and listen to your heart. © Kamen no Maid Guy Strange dreams lead to self-destruction Alcohol is an anesthesia that allows you to undergo the operation called life. (To Tsunade) His damn hare sends him signals and he eats cakes all night! © Ouran Koukou Host Club I don't have to believe in God to believe in myself Genjo Sanzo Sayuki. A brilliant line considering the fact that Sanzo is a high-ranking priest. I will become the God of the new world - the incomparable Yagami Light from the Death Note..) Lack of money is like a runny nose - if you don’t pay attention, it will go away on its own Sakata Gintoki Gintama Your efforts are not worth even an expired pack of condoms on the day of the sale! © Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan! A person can continue to walk in circles if he is lonely... - Haibane Renmei... I studied for a long time, and therefore I was delayed in my development. (Naruto)
Expressing feelings - in and outside of school
Shojo anime, as a rule, is intended more for a female audience, and is mainly focused on describing feelings, most often schoolchildren. We've probably all seen the Valentine's Day and Christmas episodes about unrequited love and romantic confessions that you simply can't miss.
Below are the main phrases and words that are used in such situations!
Kiritsu! Ray! Chakuseki! (Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki!) (きりつ! れい! ちゃくせき!): “Get up! Bow! Take a seat!” - these are the words that the teacher says before the start of the lesson, asking the students to stand up and greet the teacher with a bow.
Suki (好き): “I like you” or “I like it” (depending on the context). It can also be heard as “suki des!” (suki desu!)" or "daisuki! (daisuki!)”, which means “I like you/I really like you!”.
Kokuhaku (告白): “confession.”
Tsukiatte kudasai (付き合ってください): “please, let’s date!” used to declare your love to someone and ask them out on a date.
Ganbatte!: “Hold on!”, “Try your best!” etc. This word has many different meanings, which you can learn more about by reading our article on the word ganbaru.
Urayamashii : “I envy you!”
Giri giri seifu : (giri giri seーfu) (ギリギリーセーフ) translates as “barely managed / was able to do something.” A favorite phrase of late schoolchildren who make it to class at the very last moment.
Kuuki Yomeru (空気読める): Literally translated as "being able to read the air." This means understanding the situation and feeling the mood, acting accordingly, for example, during some very tense situation. In a negative sense, they say kuuki yomenai (空気読めない), which means a person who does not understand the current situation and atmosphere.
Onaka ga suita (お腹が空いた) and Nodo ga kawaita (喉が乾いた): “I’m hungry” and “I’m thirsty” are ideal phrases to say during lunch take a break before enjoying your bento!
Itadakimasu and Gochisousama : “bon appetit” and “thank you for the food.”
Insults
In a society based on politeness and etiquette , there are almost no such words of insult to which we are accustomed. Thus, most words that are perceived as insults are ordinary words and phrases that are spoken in an aggressive tone.
It's a vast and unusual area to explore, so we've rounded up our favorites from the anime world.
Hentai : “Pervert!”; this word means the porn genre of anime and manga, and as an insult, it is used in relation to someone who behaved obscenely towards you.
Iranai : “I don’t want to!” or “I don’t need this!”
Mendokusai : “How problematic/tiring this is!” It is typical for men to change the ending sai to seー.
Urusai! (Urusai!) : depending on the context, this word can mean “Quiet!”, “Speak more quietly!”, or even “You're annoying!”, “You're annoying!”.
Kisama : The literal translation is "you", but this form is considered very aggressive and rude.
Kuso : A more expressive way of exclaiming "Damn!"
