Glossary

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Welcome to the new and improved glossary! Here you will find Japanese, invented, and other non-English terms found in my fics. (If they're not Japanese, they'll be marked as either invented, Arabic, or whatever else they might be.)

For the most part, I'll be defining words according to the context in which they appear in my fics, not necessarily as their strict dictionary forms. Just so ya know, and don't quote me to your Japanese teacher and get in trouble, na? ^_-

Now before the actual glossary itself, I've included some information that'll be useful to you, and does show up a lot in the fics. If you already know it, skip straight to the letter you want.

Note: When I refer to certain things being mainly used by guys or girls, I'm speaking of the Japanese 'norm'. They distinguish it this way in class, and it does make a difference; but of course people choose to speak one way or another depending on how they want to be perceived. If you watch enough anime you'll get a feel for who uses what ^_~

Pronunciation Guide

Honourifics

Tack these onto people's names (usually their last name) to show some respect. Never use them to refer to yourself. Ever. *grin* Unless you're trying to be cocky and annoying, that is. ;p (With the possible exception of '-chan', but even that is iffy)

Okay, from least to most respectful:

-chan: for a kid's name, or the name of someone you're pretty close to; it's very familiar, and you'd never use it in reference to a superior. Actually, it's often tacked onto girls' names, if they're of equal or lower status than you. (You can use a first name with this) It's actually a babyfication of -san.

-kun: for reference to your equals or inferiors; you often refer to your classmates this way, though it applies to guys more often than girls.

-san: respect. Mr., etc. Applies to equals and superiors.

-senpai: referring to someone slightly higher up than you in whatever organization you're in. Could be an upperclassman in school, or an older member of a club you belong to, even an elder member of the office you work at.

-sensei: used for teachers and doctors. Mr. / Dr.

-sama: extreme respect. Use it to refer to superiors, customers, etc... There's a pretty wide range, though. You can call a customer, your king, or even the guy/girl you're in love with "sama"... It all depends exactly how much of a pedestal you wanna put them on, and how low you wanna put yourself.

Personal Pronouns

Here's how to say I / me, from most to least polite:

sessha -- this is really old-fashioned; Kenshin uses it.

watakushi -- stiff as hell, extremely formal

watashi -- pretty much neutral. Guys might not use it unless in a formal situation, though girls use it casually, too, somewhat.

boku -- mainly for guys, somewhat less formal, but still polite. Girls who use it mark themselves as at least semi-tomboys.

atashi: casual, feminine; a guy who used this would be ... well, effeminate to the extreme.

ore -- pretty rough, probably wouldn't use it to your superiors, and almost exclusively for guys. There are girls who use it, but it's a marked usage.

ore-sama -- *snicker* if you have a really huge ego, feel like pissing off whoever you're talking to, etc, etc, go right ahead ;P

You

Japanese language is structured so that you don't actually have to say "you" that often. Often you refer to the person you're speaking to by their name and an honourific, but otherwise, from most to least polite:

anata -- it's polite, and also, by itself it means "dear"; wives address their husbands as this a lot.

kimi -- this is extremely direct, and intimite; usually used between friends, and by guys

omae -- even more direct. If you used it to a friend, they might not mind, if you use it to someone you don't know well, they might take it badly, or even as a severe insult, depending how much respect they think you owe them.

temee / kisama -- see the definitions below in the glossary... don't use this unless you intend to get smacked #_#

Some Useful Particles

wa: subject (topic) marker, putting more stress on what follows than what precedes (Youji wa osoi. => Youji is late.)
     Also: (Youji wa? => And Youji? / What about Youji? )

ga: subject marker, but puts more stress on the subect than what follows (Youji ga osoi. => Youji is late. [as opposed to Aya, who came on time.])

yo: exclamation point (!)
sa: informal version of yo
ze: very rough version of yo
zo: extremely rough version of yo, tends to be used more when talking to yourself
ka: question mark (?)
kai: informal version of ka

ni: to (going to, so as to do)
e: to (going to)
to: and
mo: also / too (Watashi mo! => me too!)
no: 's (Aya no katana: Aya's sword)

X dake: X only
X made: as much as X / as far as X / until X (saigo made => till the end)

OK, the GLOSSARY Glossary ^_-

A

aa: (sound of agreement)

abunai! / abune! : Look out! (literally: dangerous)

akhi: (Arabic) my brother

aki: autumn / fall

aki yasumi: autumn vacation / fall break

aitsu: that guy (it varies in intensity, and could be more like 'that bastard,' too.)

ai shiteru: (ai shiteiru) I love you. (the stronger form)

ame: rain

amerikajin: an American

Ane / aneki: short for older sister. (informal, so generally you refer to your own sister this way. Also, aneki is used less than aniki is.)

ani / aniki: short for older brother. [ie. Toguro Ani] (informal, so generally you refer to your own brother this way)

ano / anou...: Um... / Uh...

anou na / anou ne / anou sa: now see here... / well now... / listen up...

ara: oh my

are?: Huh? What?

arigatai: I'm grateful (alternate for arigatou, but kinda quirky)

arigatou (gozaimasu / gozaimashita): thank you

arubaito: part-time job

asa: morning

asagohan: breakfast

ashita: tomorrow.

atsui: hot

attakai / atatakai: warm, pleasant

B

baachan: granny. (The way Yuusuke and Kuwabara use this to address Genkai is kinda rude.)

baka: Idiot, fool, stupid, nonsense

bakazaru: (Saiyuki) Stupid monkey. Sanzou and Gojyou's typical epithet for Gokuu.

baka yarou: idiot / jerk / asshole

baito: job (see arubaito)

ban: evening

bangohan: dinner

betsu ni: nothing much... / nothing in particular... / not especially...

biseinen: beautiful young man

bishoujo: beautiful girl

bishounen: beautiful boy

C

che: a muttered curse, not positive what exactly it means

chibi: little / dwarf

chigau: different / wrong (chigau yo!: that's not true! / that's not how it is!)

chikushou!: SHIT! / GODDAMNIT!!!!

chotto: (technically means "a bit / a little", but it's often used as a short form of chotto matte. Could come out as "Hey--!")

chotto matte: wait a minute

D

daijoubu: safe, secure etc. As a question (Daijoubu?, Daijoubu ka? or Daijoubu desu ka?) it means "are/is you/he/she/it all right?" As a statement, "I/he/she/it am/is all right."

dai suki (da): BIG suki (see suki below) ^_-

dakara: so...

dakedo: but...

dame (da / desu): no good / wrong

dare da?: who is it? / who's there?

dare ka!: someone, anyone! (help!)

de doushite? so... why? (In that case/ well then, why?)

dekiru: is capable of / can do (so the opposite is dekinai)

demo: but (demo yo / demo sa: but...! / but...)

doko: where

doko e iku no?: where are you going?

dore: which one?

dou omou?: what do you think?

doumo: very much. Sometimes short for "doumo arigatou gozaimasu" => thank you very much; in other words "thanks!"

doushita: (doushita no? / doushita n da? / doushita n dai?) what's wrong? What happened?

doushite: why?

douzo: go right ahead, be my guest

douzo yoroshiku: please treat me favourably (something you say when you first meet someone)

E

ecchi: this is just the Japanese pronunciation of the letter 'H', standing for hentai, so they mean about the same. Ecchi almost seems to be a more affectionate term, but... um... Don't quote me on that... @_@

ee: yes (slightly less formal than "hai")

eeee~eee: Huhhhhh?!

etou / e~tou: Ummm... / uhhh...

F

fuyu: winter

fuyu yasumi: winter vacation

G

gaki: brat

gaijin: foreigner

gambatte: Hang in there / keep going / persevere. (Also: Gambarimasu or Gambaru: I'll hang in there, etc.)

genkan: the entryway of a Japanese house (where you take off your shoes and change to house slippers)

genki: healthy, energetic

(o)genki desu ka: how are you (lit. are you well?)

gi: clothes--usually the outfit/uniform for some discipline, such as a martial art.

gochisousama (deshita): What you say after someone has either made you a meal or treated you to one.

gomen (nasai): sorry / I'm sorry.

H

hai: yes

hajimemashite: pleased to meet you for the first time. (what you often say when introducing yourself)

hanasanaide: don't let go

hanasé(e)!: let go!

haru: spring

haru yasumi: spring vacation

hayai: Fast.

hayaku(!): hurry up(!)

héé: expression of surprise/disbelief

hen: strange. ("hen na hito" => a strange person)

hentai: pervert (a little stronger than sukebe, I believe)

hidoi: mean, cruel.

himitsu: secret.

Hiragana: the primary Japanese alphabet

hiru: noon

hirugohan: lunch

hisashiburi (da) (da ne) (da naa)!: long time no see!

hito: person

hitori (de): alone

hontou ka yo: oh yeah?/I wonder if that's really true/etc

hontou ni: really, truthfully

ho~ / hou~: reeeeeallly, you don't saaaaaay... (sort of incredulous and cocky tone of voice, mosta the time ^_~)

I

ikanaide: don't go

ikimashou: let's go (more formal)

ikou: let's go

iku zo! / iku wa yo: let's go! (masculine / feminine)

(i)ie: no.

ii na / ii ne!: This is great! / isn't this nice!

iinazuke: fiancée

ii yo: It's all right (!).

Imouto: Younger sister. (-chan or -san can be added)

inu: dog

irasshaimasse!: welcome! (said when welcoming customers, usually)

itadakimasu: (lit. I humbly accept) Let's eat!

itooshi: darling

ittai: ow!

itte: ow!

itte irasshai: the reply to itte kimasu. (lit. Go and come)

itte kimasu: what you say before going to school/ work / do an errand, etc. (lit. I'll go and come back.)

iya: 1. casual form of "iie", meaning "no". 2. distasteful, unpleasant, etc. "Iya da"--that's horrible! (etc), or even "NO!!!" 3. iyaaaa...: sort of a hesitation noise, akin to "naaahhhh..." or "weeeeellll...."

J

jaa na / ja ne!: basically short for "jaa, mata ne!" , meaning, "Well, later!" Sometimes you just say "ja!" or "mata ne!" instead. ^_^

jan-ken-pon: Rock, scissors, paper. (janken's short for that)

jibun: oneself (jibun de: by oneself, one one's own power, etc.)

jishin: earthquake

juubun (da): is enough / is sufficient

K

(O)kaasan: Mother. O- for added respect. -san can be replaced with -sama or -chan.

Kami: a god. Kami-sama: God. but also...

kami: paper. Or, hair. (of course, they all have different Kanji...)

Kanji: (you knew this already, right?) borrowed Chinese characters used in Japanese.

Katakana: the secondary Japanese alphabet, used for writing words borrowed from another language, or for putting emphasis on a word, like bolding a word in English ^_~

katana: A japanese sword, long, thin, relatively light, with a pretty plain handle. Hiei carries one.

kawaii: cute.

kaze: wind

ke: see che, above.

kelb: (Arabic) dog.

ki: life-energy.

kimochi: feelings

kimochi warui (kimochi wariiii!): disgusting / makes me sick

kirei: pretty

kisama: Like "teme," this also means "you," but it's extremely rude, and translates to something like "you bastard," etc...

kitsune: fox.

kodomo: child

kodomo-mitai: childish / like a child

koi!: come (here)! (the imperative form)

koi: love

koibito: lover / boyfriend / girlfriend.

konaide: don't come / stay away

konbanwa: good evening

konnichiwa: hello! (good afternoon)

kono: this (something)

kono chibi...: why you little...

kore: this one

korosu: (I) will kill (you) ("Omae o korosu" => "I'm going to kill you")

kudasai: please

kure: informal, semi-rude form of kudasai

kuso: shit

kuso gaki: rotten little brat

kuso jiji: old coot / rotten old man / old fart / etc.

(O)kyakusan (/sama): customer (respectful)

M

maa, maa...: calm down... (trying to downplay something)

mada: still

mada mada: not yet

maebure: advanced announcement / heralding in advance (according to my dictionary, anyhow)

Makai: The demon world, where Kurama, Hiei and all the other youkai come from.

Meikai: The Netherworld, where Yakumo comes from (2nd YYH Movie), and which was sealed off by Enma at some point in the distant past. In the movie, Yakumo (the king of the Netherworld) tries to use the Power Sphere (that was the name, wasn't it?!) to restore the Meikai.

masaka: it can't be, no, no way, impossible, etc.

mata ne / mata na: Later!

mattaku: completely, really. By itself, as an exclamation, it's kind of like "Really!" Something you say in a huff, or when you're annoyed.

matte (yo): wait(!)

mazui: this is no good / this is bad / we're in trouble / etc. (It can also mean "tastes bad", the opposite of "oishii", depending on context)

mina / minna: everyone (add a -san, or -sama for respect)

minna doko?: (Mada Mada) where is everyone?

miro!: look! (imperative form)

miru: (to) look

miru na: don't look!

mite: look (as in, asking someone to look)

mochiron: of course

mou: more or already . By itself, or as an exclamation at the beginning of a sentence, it's almost like a verbal pout ^_- ("Mou, Youji-kun!" => "Youji, come on already!")

mou ichi-do: one more time

mou ii: enough already! / enough

N

na(a): a casual equivalent of "ne"

naginata: a long wooden pole with a medium-length blade mounted on top of it; a bit like a spear. Used to be used by samurai, came to be used more by women since the light weight and length made use of centrifugal force. (Also, this weapon just happens to be insanely cool. In my opinion, one of the sexiest weapons around! ^_^)

nakama: comrade, friend

nakanaide: don't cry

naite iru: (someone is) crying

(o)namae wa?: what's your name?

nan da?: what is it? / what is this?

nan da to?: what did you say?!

nande: why?

nan desu tte?: (same as above, more formal)

nan deshou / nan darou: what do you suppose that is? / I wonder what that is? / what can I do for you? / (Belsunce Breakdown) And what might that be?

nan de mo nai: it's nothing

nani?: what?

nani mo nai: nothing

naruhodo: I see

natsu: summer

natsu yasumi: summer vacation

naze?: why?

ne: at the end of a sentence, 'right?' or 'isn't that so?' At the beginning of a sentence, 'hey', or 'say' , either to get someone's attention or preface a thought.

(O)neesan: Older sister. O- for added respect. -san can be replaced with -sama or -chan. The 'ee' is pronounced as if saying the letter 'A'.

neko: cat.

Nihongo: Japanese language

Nihonjin: a Japanese person

(O)niisan: Older brother. O- for added respect. -san can be replaced with -sama or -chan.

Ningenkai: The Human world, where Yuusuke, Kuwabara and all the other bufoo--er, Humans come from.

Ningen: Human.

ninmu kanryou: Mission accomplished.

ninmu ryoukai: Mission accepted/acknowledged.

O

Note: If you're looking for an "o" word and don't find it here, try looking for the word without the "o", because that is sometimes an honourific or polite prefix.

ohayou (gozaimasu): good morning

okaeri (nasai): welcome home / welcome back . The response to tadaima.

oishii: delicious / tasty

Omedetou (gozaimasu)!: congratulations!

onegai (-shimasu): please

onegai da: it's a favour (I'm asking of you)

Oni: Devil/Ogre. (Remember the blue guys running around in Koenma's office, like Saotome George?)

osoi: late / slow

ossu!: yo, wassup!

otaku: someone insanely obsessed with something (to the point of not leaving your house is where the term comes from, since "otaku" is a polite word for "house"). Anime fans tend to refer ourselves as that, but you can actually be an otaku of anything, a sports otaku, a martial arts or weapons otaku (me!), etc... ^_^

Otouto: Younger brother [ie. Toguro Ototo]. (-chan or -san can be added)

oyasumi: good night

owari: the end

owatta: finished

R

-ra: the rougher form of "-tachi", a plural marker. "Kisama ra!" => "You bastards!"

Reikai: The Spirit World, where Koenma lives and works at the Gate of Judgement. This is where spirits are processed and sent to Heaven or Hell.

reiki / rei ki: spiritual energy (life energy) possessed by humans and inhabitants of the Reikai, used for fireballs, etc.

Rei Gun: Yuusuke's principal weapon, a laser beam of reiki he shoots from his index finger, like a gun.

Rei Kan: ESP, sixth sense, psychic ability. Kuwabara and his sister Shizuru have very strong Rei Kan.

Rei Ken: (not to be confused with the above) Kuwabara's principal weapon, a sword made completely of reiki, much sharper than a normal sword. Kuwabara can lengthen/shorten/bend it at will.

Reikai-Tantei: Spirit World Detectives, created and controlled by Koenma to rectify the "little problems" that crop up in the three worlds. Consists of Yuusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei and their assistant Botan in the canon.

'rusee, na: Shaddap. (short and slurred together form of urusai na)

ryoukai: roger.

S

saa...: Well... / Let's see... / come on

saa!: I dunno!

saigo: the last / the end

samui: cold

sei: fault. ("Ore no sei da" = "It's my fault")

seme: this is a Japanese fan-term, as far as I can tell. In any case, it designates the dominant partner, or top, in a pairing.

-shihan: Master (Genkai-shihan: Master Genkai)

shikata ga nai: more formal version of shou ga nai, same changes can be applied, too.

shimatta: Literally--"I ended up doing it". It has the connotation, "I messed up, I made a mistake, etc..." and is often translated as just "Shit!" or "Damn!"

shiné!: die!

shinitai no ka?: you wanna die?

shinjirannai (shinjirannee): short for shinjirarenai.

shinjiraren: short for shinjirarenai.

shinjirarenai (shinjirarenee): I can't believe it.

shou ga nai: nothing to be done / can't be helped shou ga nai (darou? / deshou? / ne? / na?): nothing to be done, right? / I guess it can't be helped / etc. (the nai here can be replaced with nee or arimasen)

shuriken: throwing stars

soba: noodles

sonna!: (as an exclamation, by itself) But! / That's...! (It's basically a protest, or an exclamation at how mean/unfair/bad/etc. something is. You could translate it a lotta different ways.)

sore: that

sou da na: (= sou desu ne) That's true, isn't it? (Yeah, I agree) sou datta na: past tense; "that's how it was, huh?"

sou deshou/sou darou: that's how it is, isn't it? Isn't that right?

sou ja nai: it's not so (you can apply na, ka and darou/deshou just the same as with the positive form)

sou (desu) ka: really? / is that so? sou kai: just a more informal version of sou ka

sukebe: pervert (not quite as strong as hentai, I think...)

suzushii: cool (temperature-wise), pleasant

sugoi: amazing, wonderful, uncanny, weird.

suki da: I love you. (the slightly less intense form--maybe more like "I like you" than "I love you"... also, I'm guessing it's more appropriate for family members to use about each other.)

sumanai: informal for sumimasen

sumimasen: excuse me / I'm sorry

T

-tachi: a suffix that makes something plural. Watashi-tachi is "we", for exampe, anata-tachi is a plural "you" (like "vous" in French), and Urameshi-tachi would be the group associated with Yuusuke, in other words, the Reikai Tantei.

tadaima: I'm home / I'm back (and the response is okaeri.)

taihen (da): it's awful, it's serious, it's hard, it's terrible...

'taku: short for mattaku, see above.

tami: sake ("dare no tame ni" = "for whose sake")

tanomu: I'm begging you

tanoshii: is fun

tanoshimi: it will be fun / I'm looking forward to it

tasukete!: help!

teme(e): Extremely strong "YOU!", which, because it's extremely rude in Japan, often translates to "bastard" or the like...

tenshi: angel

-(t)te ba: puts extra emphasis on whatever comes before it. So if "wakatta" => "I understood", then "wakatta tte ba!" is "I underSTOOD, I'm telling you!" You hear it after names, sometimes, when one person is trying to get another's attention. You've called their name once, then you add "tte ba" for emphasis, and perhaps to indicate a certain amount of frustration.

(O)tousan: Father. O- for added respect. -san can be replaced with -sama or -chan.

U

uke: this is a Japanese fan-term, as far as I can tell. In any case, it designates the submissive partner, or bottom, in a pairing.

un: yeah

ureshii: happy / I'm so happy!

urusai: noisy, annoying. urusai, na!: shut up!

uso: a lie. uso da: it's a lie/it's not true!. uso darou?!: you're kidding, right?! / this can't be true!

usotsuki: liar

utsukushii: beautiful

W

wakaranai / wakannai / wakannee: I don't know / I'd'nno (the less syllables, the more slang, just like English ^_-)

wakarimashita: formal of wakatta

wakatta (yo): I understand / understood (!)

wakizashi: a short katana, usually held in the left hand while fighting with a katana in the right.

warui: bad / evil

Y

ya: another informal greeting, like yo

yabai: quite similar to mazui

yabee: informal for yabai

yada / yadda: contraction of iya da.

yahari: As I thought / after all / as expected

yamero (yo)!: stop!

yamete (yo)!: stop!

yappari: Exactly the same as above.

yare-yare: well, well... / so that's how it is...

yarou: jerk

'yasumi: short for oyasumi, see above

yasumi: vacation

yasumu: take a rest

yatteranee ze!: I can't take it anymore! (very informal; I just love it! Youji sounds so cute when he says it!! ^___^)

yo: tack it onto the end of just about anything, it works like an exclamation point (!). It can also be an informal greeting just like in English, "Yo, wassup" style ^_~

yoroshiku (na): (short and informal for "yoroshiku onegai-shimasu" or "douzo yoroshiku") Nice to meet you. (lit. please treat me well.)

yoshi / yosh: OK! / all right!

youkai: demon

yokatta: literally, "it was good", but also "thank goodness," "thank god," etc...

youki: demonic energy (life energy) possessed by (duh) demons, the inhabitants of the Makai.

Youko: A fox-demon, humanoid but with fox-ears and tail. (Kurama in his silver-haired form)

yumemiru: dream of

yurushite: forgive (me)

Z

zannen (da): it's a shame / it's too bad

zen-zen: not at all

zettai ni: absolutely, surely

zutto: always / to a great extent

[flops over] Hoooookay, that oughta do it! I'm exhausted... If there's still something missing on this page... you're on your own! Nah, I'm kidding, if there's still something undefined from my fics, just yell, and I'll drop dead--er, no, I'll add it, yeah, that's it... [wanders off, unable to walk a straight line]