Note: This is readable in programs with no formatting ability, so employing a modified romanization system. Instead of putting a diacritical marking above an "o" to indicate a doubled length, it will have write out "ou." Hopefully all the readers are familiar with the standard romanization system. If not, any pocket Japanese-English dictionary will provide a complete explanation of Japanese romanization.
Disclaimers: This glossary contains a choice of the 35 words which has been deem to be most common and/or essential in Anime. Obviously, this opinion is different from that of others. Students of Japanese should also be cautioned against using this vocabulary without regard to proper context.
1. abunai- dangerous.
The term has a broader application in Japanese than a direct translation would suggest, being employed in situations where an English speaker would say "Duck!" or "Look out!" Another common usage is as a euphemism for "deviant," i.e. a "dangerous" relationship (abunai kankei).
2. ai- love.
If a native speaker wanted to specify romantic love, he would use the character pronounced "koi" (or ren, depending on the context).
3. arigatou- Thanks.
The full formula is "arigatou gozaimasu".
4. baka- an all-purpose insult denigrating the subject's intelligence.
Depending on tone of voice and other factors, it can range in severity from "silly" to "retard." Other similar insults are "aho" and "manuke," although "manuke" is more specifically "dolt, buffoon."
5. bakemono- monster.
6. be-da!- the sound made by Japanese when they perform akanbe
A gesture of contempt made by sticking out the tongue and bringing down one lower eyelid. It is analogous to a Bronx cheer or "Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah."
7. gaki- young, immature person.
Often translated as "brat" or "punk."
8. hentai-
Although a "hen" compound, it merits a separate entry. Its classical meaning is "metamorphosis, transformation." It later came to mean "abnormality," and in modern colloquial Japanese is used almost exclusively to mean"pervert" or "perversion." When a woman insults a man in anime, she generally uses on of three terms: hentai, sukebe, and etchi. Sukebe implies "oversexed" rather than "deviant."
Etchi can be quite mild in some contexts, comparable to "lewd" or "Fresh!" These three terms are often used interchangeably, especially when someone is stringing together insults. Though not as frequent, the word (o-)kama refers specifically to transvestitism and other gender-bending actions associated with homosexuality.
9. hime- princess.
10. ii- good.
An older variant, still current, is "yoi". "Yoku" is the abverbial form. "Yokatta" is the familiar past tense. When used as an exclamation, it can mean "That's great!," but is usually better translated as, "I'm so glad!"
11. kareshi- boyfriend.
"Kanojo" is the equivalent word for "girlfriend." "Koibito" can be applied to both sexes, but it implies a more serious relationship.
12. kawaii- cute.
More than a mere adjective, "kawaii" qualifies as an aesthetic and an obsession in Japan. A less common, secondary meaning is "cherished, beloved." Note: "kawaii" sou means "How sad" or "How pitiful."
13. naka- a word referring to one's relations, both familial and platonic.
Nakayoku suru means "to get along." "Nakama" means "close friend(s)" or "trusted ally(-ies)."
14. ohayou- abbreviated form of ohayou gozaimasu, "good morning."
Men have the option of using the reduced form ossu in casual speech.
15. oni- demon, ogre, or any other supernatural life form inimical to mankind.
16. Ryoukai!- message received and understood-"Roger!"
17. sempai- anyone who is one's senior in a hierarchical organization.
The term cuts across all classes and occupations, and must be translated according to context.
18. shinjiru- to believe in.
The inflected form most frequently encountered in anime is shinjirarenai, "I can't believe it!"
19. shinu- to die.
The most common inflected forms are Shinda, "Dead.", Shinanaide!, "Don't die!", and Shi'ne!, "Die!"
20. shitsukoi- persistent, relentless.
Tenacious-at the very least a constant pain in the ass.
21. sugoi- one of three common superlatives that all happen to begin with su-.
The other two are "suteki" and "subarashii". The three are generally interchangeable. However, "sugoi" often expresses an admiration for someone else's power or talent, and may be mixed with a sense of dread. It can straddle the line between "awesome" and "awful." "Suteki" is most often applied to physical appearance.
It's used most often by women, but it can be applied to both genders. "Subarashii" is more neutral and can be translated as "great." Although lacking the su- beginning, "kakkoi" is a superlative used mostly in describing people -"Cool!"
Note: A spoken variant of "sugoi" is Suge-e!
22. suki- affection, liking.
Also used to signify "love." If anything, the phrase "Suki da." is even more ambiguous than the English "I like you."
23. taihen- when modifying an adjective, it means "extremely."
When it describes a situation without any other adjectives, it means "terrible."
24. tatakau- to fight, do battle.
25. teki- enemy.
26. tomodachi- friend.
27. unmei- fate, destiny.
28. uragirimono- traitor.
29. ureshii- happy.
As an exclamation, Ureshii! Can be translated as "I'm so happy!" or even "Whee!"
30. uso- a lie.
As an exclamation, it can mean "You must be kidding!," "You lie!," or "No way!" Spoken variants are Usso! and Ussou. The word usotsuki means "liar."
31. yabai- miserable, wretched (situation).
As an exclamation, this can be translated as "This is bad!" or an emphatic "Uh-oh."
32. yatta-
Probably originated as the past tense of "yaru," but has long since taken on an independent meaning. Used to proclaim victory or good fortune. Possible translations include "Hooray!," "Banzai!," "I did it!," and "Yay!"
33. yoshi- an exclamation used when readying oneself to take an important action.
Possible translations include "Here I come!," "All right (,then)!" Spoken variants are yosshi and yo-oshi!
34. youkai- an occult monster.
Sometimes used as a general term for occult phenomena.
35. yurusu- to forgive, pardon.
Forms of this verb commonly found in anime are O-yurushi kudasai or Yurushite kudasai, meaning "Forgive me!" Even more common is yurusanai/yurusenai. This phrase can be literally translated as "I won't/can't forgive you!," but an idiomatic translation generally requires that attention be paid to the specific circumstances in which the exclamation is shouted or growled.
"I will grant no quarter!" might work in some historical periods, but "You're finished!" would work better in most contemporary settings. Other possibilities which work in certain circumstances are "Your day is done!," "It's curtains for you!," "You're through!"...you get the idea.
