Confusing Japanese Words,

For the Confused.

Kawaii and kowai

• Kawaii• “Cute”• Used to describe

everything from puppies to boys.

• Kowai• “Scary”• Used to describe

everything from monsters to ghosts.

Byôin and biyôin

• Bee-yo-een• “Hospital”• Where you go

when your leg has fallen off.

• Biyôin• “Hair salon”• Where you go

when your hair has fallen off.

Tomodachi and Tamagotchi

• “Friend”• “A ‘Tamagotchi is

meant to be a ‘tomodachi’ .”

• “Small egg”• Most people think

that the small, electronic pet was named for the word for “friend”, but it’s not.

Ojisama, ojîsama, ôjisama

“Uncle” “Grandfather”

“Prince”

Can be used for any middle-aged man (one you admire).

“Ojisan” is less formal.

“Ojîsan” is less formal.

Considering you’re addressing a prince, stay formal.

Itadakimasu and Ittekimasu

• What you say before eating

• Often heard in anime (ex. “Naruto”).

• What you say before you leave the house

• Also can be heard in anime (ex. “Chobits”).

Yume and Yûmei

• “Dream”• As in, what you do

when you’re asleep, or what you hope for.

• “Famous”• Like a movie star,

actor/actress, singer, etc.

Okashi and okashii

• “Snack”• You eat it.

• “Weird/ strange/ Funny”

HashiMeans both “bridge” and “edge”

The story goes: “One day, a monk went to go see a rich man. The man wanted to test how smart the monk was, so he posted a note by the bridge that said “do not walk on bridge”. But the monk did anyway. The rich man criticized the monk for not following the rule, but the monk simply smiled and said “I did not walk on the edge”.

The End!

http://www.inaruto.net/bleach/bleach-chapter-180/3/ , Bleach, chapter 180. Bleach is copyright Tite Kubo.

CreditsWords, meanings, and story (of the monk), courtesy of Shonen Jump magazine; year 2007, volume 11

(Nov.), page 60.Background courtesy of:

http://www.freewebs.com/lightingsquadron/question_marks.jpg

.First Slide: Bleach, episode 145, “Gin Ichamaru”, “Arrancar

Encylopedia”. Bleach, copyright Tite Kubo, Studio Pierrot/ Viz

Media, and Shonen Jump Magazine. Picture on slide 4: the Tamagotchi was created by Aki Maita and is sold by Bandai. http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/ta/tamagotchi-connexion-v3.jpg .

An Emmy- Senpai production

April 23, 2008

Anime club of 2007-08

Visit: www.animewriter7.wordpress.com

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