Japanese beyond the subtitles
Heard in Anime
The words you keep hearing in every episode — what they really mean, when you can use them, and the grammar behind each one. Short reads with Fuji & Yuki.
New: Sound words ↓ — doki doki, kira kira and friends.
Pick a word you know
22 words- Club note 01せんぱいsenpaiWhy “notice me, senpai” is a whole culture, not just a word.Read the column
- Club note 02いただきますitadakimasuNot “bon appétit” — it's a thank-you to everything that made the meal.Read the column
- Club note 03ばかbakaHow rude is ばか really? It depends who you say it to (and where).Read the column
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- Club note 03ばかbakaHow rude is ばか really? It depends who you say it to (and where).Read the column
- Club note 04やばいyabaiAnime's most flexible word: one adjective, opposite meanings.Read the column
- Club note 05さすがsasugaThe compliment with a backstory — praise that says “you lived up to your legend.”Read the column
- Club note 06おまえomaeFour ways to say “you” — and why anime heroes always pick the rude one.Read the column
- Club note 07いってきますittekimasuFour phrases that always arrive in pairs — and why nobody in anime says さようなら at home.Read the column
- Club note 08〜ちゃん-chan / -kunWhy dropping さん is a bigger move than anything the characters actually say.Read the column
- Club note 09ちょっとchottoThe word that means “a little”, until it's the politest refusal in the language.Read the column
- Club note 10がんばってganbatteThe most-shouted word in sports anime, and why the English subtitle is always slightly wrong.Read the column
- Club note 11おつかれさまotsukaresamaThe greeting with no English translation, said a dozen times a day.Read the column
- Club note 12すごいsugoiすごい, すげー, すっげー — one adjective, and the sound change that hits all of them.Read the column
- Club note 13こうはいkouhaiEveryone knows senpai. Here's the word for the person looking up at them.Read the column
- Club note 14せんせいsenseiIt doesn't only mean “teacher”, and you never use it for yourself.Read the column
- Club note 15だいじょうぶdaijoubuThe reassuring word that can also be a polite refusal.Read the column
- Club note 16かわいいkawaiiJapan's favourite compliment, and the slip that turns it into “scary”.Read the column
- Club note 17なにnaniThe question word that became a meme, and when it turns into なん.Read the column
- Club note 18なかまnakamaMore than ともだち: your team, your crew, the people you share a goal with.Read the column
- Club note 19うそusoGasping “a lie!” isn't an accusation. Usually it just means “no way, really?!”Read the column
- Club note 20まさかmasakaThe word for the moment you refuse to believe what you're seeing.Read the column
- Club note 21なるほどnaruhodoThe sound of something clicking into place, and why to be careful saying it to your boss.Read the column
- Club note 22やったyattaA past-tense verb that became a victory shout.Read the column
Sound words
Doki doki, kira kira — the sounds and feelings written all over manga.20 words- Sound note 01どきどきdoki dokiThe sound of a heartbeat that became the word for the feeling.Read the column
- Sound note 02わくわくwaku wakuThe night-before-a-trip feeling, in four kana.Read the column
- Sound note 03ぺこぺこpeko pekoWhat your stomach says when lunch is late.Read the column
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- Sound note 03ぺこぺこpeko pekoWhat your stomach says when lunch is late.Read the column
- Sound note 04きらきらkira kiraA sound word for something that makes no sound at all.Read the column
- Sound note 05にこにこniko nikoThe smile that stays on someone's face.Read the column
- Sound note 06ぺらぺらpera peraThe compliment every learner hopes to hear.Read the column
- Sound note 07ふわふわfuwa fuwaClouds, kittens, pancakes: anything you want to touch.Read the column
- Sound note 08ごろごろgoro goroThe perfect plan for a Sunday.Read the column
- Sound note 09いらいらira iraThe feeling of a train that will not come.Read the column
- Sound note 10ぴかぴかpika pikaThe sparkle hidden in Pikachu's name.Read the column
- Sound note 11ゴゴゴgogogoThe sound of tension, drawn in giant letters.Read the column
- Sound note 12しーんshiinJapanese has a sound for silence.Read the column
- Sound note 13もふもふmofu mofuThe word for every big fluffy animal.Read the column
- Sound note 14ぐっすりgussuriThe sleep you wish you got every night.Read the column
- Sound note 15ざあざあzaa zaaNot a drizzle: the rain you can hear from inside.Read the column
- Sound note 16にやにやniya niyaThe smile that makes people ask what you're up to.Read the column
- Sound note 17むかむかmuka mukaThe anger you keep inside, and can't quite put into words.Read the column
- Sound note 18きゅんkyunThe sound of a heart that just melted a little.Read the column
- Sound note 19ばたばたbata bataEvery morning when you overslept.Read the column
- Sound note 20ガーンgaanThe sound of your heart hitting the floor.Read the column