InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Just A Couple Translations ❯ Translations ( Chapter 1 )

abayo: "see ya"

abunai: dangerous, threatening

aburi: fried tofu

ahou: moron

ai: love

aite: opponent

akari: light

aku: evil, wicked, bad, etc.

Akuma: Satan, Devil

anime: a common abbreviation of the Japanese term for animation. In Japan it is used to refer to all animation, while in other countries it is generally used to refer to Japanese animation

ano: an expression similar to "umm..." in English

ano hi: "this day"

ano hito: literally "that person"

ano toki: literally "that time" often translates to "back there", "back then"

anou: "well..."

ara/are: oh, or "huh?" ; "Ara" is used by women, "Are" by men

arigato (u): thank you, thanks (Domo arigato)

arigatou gozaimasu: "thank you very much" more formal version is "domo arigatou gozaimasu"

ashita: tomorrow

atama: head

atarashii: new

atsui: hot (temperature or weather)

'Baasan/Obaasan: both of these words mean grandmother, (Obaasan: honorary grandmother), (Baasan: grandmother). It's important to note that this word is very different from "obasan" (which only has one "a" in romanji or a short "a" sound in speech). The "a" sound in obaasan is held twice as long.

baka: stupid, fool; an all purpose insult denigrating the subject's intelligence

bakaga: impossible

bakemono: monster

bento: a box lunch

be-da!: the sound made by Japanese when they perform akanbe

betsu ni: "nothing" or "not really"

bishonen: beautiful boy

bijin: a beautiful woman

bishoujo: beautiful/pretty girl (shoujo = girl)

bouzu: kid (often used as an insult)

busu: ugly girl (a pretty rude insult)

chibi: a short person, kid, diminutive

Chichiue: old and formal way of saying "Father"

chikyuu: Earth (as in the planet)

chigau: a verb meaning "to deviate, be different

chiisai: small (as in "small in size")

chikara: strength, power

chikucho: an exclamation of frustration

chotto: a little

chotto matte: "wait a minute!"

clothing nouns: yukata (summer kimono), obi (sash), haori (coat), hanten (jacket), hakama (skirt pants), tabi (split-toed socks), gi (short men's kimono), zori (sandals for kimono), geta (wooden sandals), warajii (sandles w/many woven straw straps), manto (cloak)

da: as in "no da"

daga: however/but

daijoubu: O.K./don't worry, I'm okay, etc.

daikon: large Japanese radish

daimyo: fuedal lord; people the next rank above samurai in Japan's fuedal era and were major landowners

daisho: traditional pair of swords carried by a samurai, consisting of a katana (long sword) and wakizashi (short sword)

dakara: so, therefore

damare: "be quiet", often translates as "shut-up!" or "silence"

damaru: be still, silent

damasu: to deceive

dame: bad, no good; no can do

dare: who

demo/datte: but

densetsu: legend, legendary

dewa: an interjection, has various meanings including "Then...", "Well...", "Now..." etc.

dim sum: pork buns (a Chinese dish)

do-iu koto da: "what do you mean?"

dojo: school (as in martial arts training hall)

doki doki: a phrase meaning "sometimes/from time to time"; it also describes a heartbeat

doko (ni): where?

doozo: here you go, here you are (giving someone something)

dou: how, in what way?; "dou da?" is "how about it?"

dou shite: why?/why not?/how come?; "doushite" can mean "what's wrong?"

eeto...: like saying "um..." or "erm..." that sort of thing

Eigo: English

expletives: mou, che, chikuso, kuso, shimatta (all meaning damn, shit, crap, etc.)

fuku: clothes, uniform i.e.: Sailor fuku

fureru: "to touch"

furo: bath

futon: the thin, soft mattresses some Japanese sleep on

fushigi: mystery, wonder, mysterious, etc.

fuzakeru: to play games, fool around

gaijin: refers to any foreigner

gakkou: highschool

gaki: young, immature person

gambaru: a literal reading of the characters would be "to adhere to something with tenacity"

gambatte ne!: "do your best!"

genki da: cheer up, be well, take care, etc. ("genki" literally means energy)

gochisousama!: said at the end of mealtimes, means "thank you for the meal/I'm finished"

gomen (nasai): (I'm) sorry

ha: the cutting edge of a sword (just one of many meanings for "ha")

Hahaue: old and formal way of saying "Mother"

hai: yes

hajime: beginning, start, the first time, etc. The verb "to begin" is "hajimeru" (with the often-heard command form "hajimete")

hajimemashite: "I'm pleased to meet you(for the first time)"

hakubaikou: white plum (the scent and the flower)

han: half; examples are "hanbun ("half of me" or "part of me") and "hanyou" ("half-demon")

hana: there are a few meanings for this, including "flower" and "nose"

hanase: imperative form of "to release", it often translates as "release me!" or "let me go!"; the dictionary form is "hanasu"

hanashi: as a noun it means "news, account, story", etc. The dictionary from of the verb "to talk" is "hanasu", "hanasu" also means "to release" (see above)

hane: spring (as in the season)

hayaku: means "faster", also translates as "hurry up" or "quickly" when used as a command.

hayai: quick, fast, early

hen: strange, weird

henshin: transformation

hentai: "pervert" or "perversion"

hidari: left

hidoi: severe, harsh, mean, cruel

hikari: light, energy (as in a glare, gleam, or ray)

hime: princess

himitsu: secret

hiragana: one of the Japanese phonetic alphabets, used for native words.

hito: man, person

hitokiri: assassin; "hito" means "man" and "kire" is a form of the verb "to cut" ("kiru"), so "hitokiri" literally means "Man-Slicer" or "ManSlayer", hence why it's an appropriat job title for an assassin ;)

hitomi: to see, eye

hitotsu: a part of something (a, one, etc.)

honto: really ("honto desu ka": "really?")

Houshi: priest

ichiban: first, the best, favorite, etc.; "ichi" is "one" and "-ban" is used specifically for counting numerical order.

ie: house

ii: good, nice; "ii desu ka" means "is it okay?", the casual version is "ii ne/na"; the past tense of "ii" is "yokatta" (yup you grammar-seekers, it's an irregular.)

iie: no

iinazuke: fiancee

ikari: fury

ikenai: "on no!"

iku: the dictionary form of "to go"; often you hear it as "ikuzo" meaning "let's go!"

ima: now

imouto: younger sister

inochi: life

inu: dog

irrashimase!: welcome! (used on restaurants to greet customers)

itachi: weasel

itadakimasu: said at the start of meals, means "let's eat!", "here's to good food", etc.

itai: hurt, pain; painful

ite: ouch, ow

itte kimasu: "I'm taking off!" or "I'm leaving now!" the "itte" part of this is the gerund form of the verb "to go" ("iku")

istu: when; "istu mo" means "always, constantly, forever", etc.

ja ne/ja na: see you later/see you then

ja matta/mattana: casual "goodbye"

janken: the Japanese version of "rock, paper, scissors"; the phrase is "Janken, Janken, Pon!"

jibun: one's self, yourself/himself/herself

Jigoku: Hell, Hades

jikai: next time

jinchuu: Earthly justice (is also sometimes translated as "revenge")

joshikousei: a female high school student

jitsu wa: "actually..."

jou-chan: "little missy"

joudan janai: "this is no joke!" or "you've got to be kidding!", etc.

juban: Number 10 (Ju=10 Ban=number is the district where the senshi live, hence the many puns on the number 10 appearing throughout the series)

juunishi: Japanese version of the Chinese Zodiac (featured in the anime Fruits Basket)

ka: a particle that indicates a question

kakkoii!: "cool!"

kamawanai: regardless of

Kami: God, god

kamiya: flower

kanai: wife

kanarazu: an adverbial prefix indicating something will happen

kanji: perception, feeling. Also refers to the Chinese characters used in Japanese writing

kanojo: girlfriend

kao: face

kaoru: scent

kare/kareshi: boyfriend

katakana: one of the Japanese phonic alphabets,

mainly used for borrowed words.

kawaii/kawaiku ne: cute/uncute

kaze: wind

kedo: but, but still

kega: wound, injury

keisatsu: police

ken: sword; there are many word for sword according to their type (usually determined by length). Examples: (wattou: long battle katana, usually greater than 30in in length), (katana: generally 25-30in long), (wakizashi: short sword), (kodachi: short sword between a wakizashi and katana in length), (tanto: long dagger), (kunai: short throwing knives), (sakabatou: a fictional reverse-bladed sword), (zanbatou: giant sword used to cut down both horse and rider), (bokken: wooden sword), and (shinai: bamboo practice sword). The sheath or scabbard for a sword is called a "saya".

kenjutsu: swordsmanship

kenkaku: swordsman

kenshin: devotion, dedication

keredo/kedo: though, although, but

ki/chi: the Asian concept of a life force or spirit; it's mentioned a lot in martial arts anime. "Ki" also means "tree". "Chi" is closer to the Chinese pronunciation of the word.

kimochi: feeling, emotion, pleasure

ki o tsukete: the gerund (command) form of "be careful"; dictionary form is "ki o tsukeru"

kirei: pretty, lovely, unlike in English, the Japanese word for "pretty" can also be a noun, and so sometimes you hear it as an affectionate nickname for someone.

kisama: "bastard", a very rude way for calling/address someone. Usually said by males. (^^;)

kitsune: fox

kodomo: child

koekeishiya: successor

koishii, koibito: beloved, lover, sweetheart, etc.

koi: this word has a ton of meanings, including love, goldfish, and "come here!" (the imperative form of the verb "to come", which is "kuru")

kokoro: heart, mind, soul, etc.

konbanwa: good evening

koneko: kitten

konnichiwa: good day, hello, good afternoon

korosu: "to kill"

kotaeru: "to answer"; you'll hear it in various forms in anime, often as a command: "answer me!"

koto wa: thing, what, affair/matter

kotowaru: "to decline" (to refuse something, such as a fight)

kowai: scared/scary, afraid, fear

kudasai: Please (Ocha Kudasai = Tea please)

kumo: a couple of meanings, including "spider" and "cloud"

kuru: to come

maa, maa: "now, now"; a phrase used to placate someone

maa na: "I guess"

maboroshi: means "illusion", as in a dream or illusion constructed by someone; figuatively it means "mystic" or "mystical". In Escaflowne "Maboroshi no tsuki" means "The Mystic Moon"

machigainai: there's no mistake! (like when you recognize someone, or verify information)

mada: not yet, still

mahou: magic, magic spell

makaseru: to place one's trust in someone or something

makeru: to lose

momoru: "to protect", or "guard"

manga: Japanese comics (same situation as with anime)

masaka: "of course not!", "impossible", "it can't be!", "not really", etc.

massushiro: a phrase, means "clean and white"

matsu: to wait

mattaku: sheesh, yeesh, jeez, "oh for heaven's sake", etc. General expression of annoyance.

miko: priestess

minna: everyone

miru: "to see"

miso: Japanese soy-based soup

mizu: water

mochi: a Japanese dessert: rice dough (kinda marshmallow in texture) stuffed with ohagi (sweet bean paste)

mochiron: of course, without a doubt

moko- dono: means "son-in-law"

mon: family crest, often seen on a formal kimono. In the Meji era a "mon" was also a form of currency that was worth less than a "sen". The mon, as far as I know, is no longer in use as money in Japan.

mononoke: vengeful spirit

mooto: increases the amount of something. An example is "hayaku, hayaku, mooto hayaku" which means "faster, faster, and faster" but "mooto" doesn't mean "and"; it's simply increasing the amount of "hayaku"

mori: forest

moshi moshi: hello (on the phone)

mou: already

mou ii: a phrase, means "no more" or "that's enough!"

mune: the dull edge of a Japanese sword. It also means "heart"

musume: young woman, daughter; "itachi musumi" means "weasel girl" or literally the daughter of a weasel.

musukashii: difficult

myuun: the sound a cat makes, they also make a "nyaa nyaa" sound :)

na ha: a very impolite and abbreviated way to ask someone their name. "O-namae wa" is standard-polite; if you wnt to be even more formal you would use "O-namae wa nan to iimasu ka" or "O-namae wa nan to ossaimasu ka" (the latter is very polite^^)

naka: a word referring to one's relations, both familial and platonic

nakanai de: don't cry, the negative form of the verb "to cry" ("naku"). "nakanaide kusadai": "please don't cry"

nan da/nan de: why, what. "nan da to" is an extreme version "what", sort of like "WHAT?!"

nan de sute: "what did you say?"

nan: what; a common casual version of this is "nani"

nani yatten no: "what are you doing?"

nani-mo: nothing

naruhodo: I see (as in "I understand"); So

naze: why (an extreme why, as in "why did you do that?!")

ne: added to the end of a sentence to say "isn't it?" or "am I right?"

neko: cat

negai: "wish"

nezumi/onezumi: mouse/rat

nigeru: to flee, "to run"

nihon, nippon/nihongo: Japan/Japanese (language)

nikuma: pork buns

ningen: human; humanity

nidoto: never (as in "I'll never do that again")

no: serves several purposes, often as a particle marking a possessive ("Akane no iinazuki" would be "Akane's fiancee" for instance)

numbers: (ichi: one), (ni: two), (san: three), (shi or yon: four), (go: five), (roku: six), (shichi or nana: seven), (hachi: eight), (kyuu or ku: nine), and (juu: ten), etc.

obasan: aunt

obaba: great-grandmother, or a fairly rude way of saying "old woman"

obou: monk

oden: a mixed meat/vegetable stew

ohagi: sweet bean paste

ohayo: "Good Morning" (Ohiyo gozaimasu is a more polite way of saying it)

ohisashiburi: "it's been a long time" or "long time no see!"

oi: hey!

oishii: delicious, tasty

ojisan: uncle, or "mister" when used by a non-relative. The Japanese have the habit of sometimes referring to strangers or aquaintances with familial terms. This is one such example.

ojiisan: grandfather. Just as with "obasan" it's important to note the difference in spelling. You hold the "i" sound longer when you want to say "grandfather" as opposed to "uncle".

okaa: mother; in speech this word is almost used with an honorific. "Okaa-sama" is very respectful. "Okaa-san" is general respect (this is the usual form you hear), "Okaa-chan" is informal and is sort of like saying "mommy".

okari nasai: welcome home

okashira: commander or boss

okonomiyaki: Japanese "pizza" (it's similar to a pancake with sauce and other toppings added. Yum^_^)

okoru: to get angry

omoshiri: interesting or amusing

onee-san: sister

onegai: Please, when making a request; truncated form of onegai shimasu when you're being really polite; "I beg of you", "Please" or "Pretty please"

onee: older sister

oni: demon, ogre, or any other supernatural life form inimical to mankind

onii: older brother

onigirii: rice ball

onna: woman

onsen: hot spring

ookii: big

oswari: the command form of "to sit"; actually this is technically a dog command...

otaku: The literal meaning of the word is a polite form of "you", but colloquially the word took on the meaning of a (very) obsessed fan in Japanese. In other languages however it has become a popular way of calling yourself an anime fan.

otoko: man

otou: father; in speech just as with "okaa", this word is almost always used with an honorific.

otouto: younger brother

otto: husband

ougi: succession technique for a sword or martial arts school, literally means "deep act"

owari: the end/finale, as in the end of a show or story. The verb "to end" is "owaru"

oyaji: "old man", as in your dad (often used as an insult in anime)

oyasumi nasai: good night

paku: the sound a fish makes

pan: bread

piku: to shake, or to tremble, also the common anime face falt

piyo: the sound a bird makes

rei: soul

romaji: The English alphabet, when used to translate (romanize) the original Japanese words. (all of the Japanese terms on this page are written in Romaji)

rounin: masterless samurai

rurouni: vagabond or wanderer

Ryoukai!: message received and understood- "Roger!"

ryu: school or style

ryuu: dragon

saa: a noncommittal reply indecating that one has understood a statement and given it serious thought

sake: rice "wine" (it's brewed like a beer)

sakura: cherry blossom

samurai: Japan's ancient warrior class (one step above peasants), officially abolished at the start of the Meji era (1868)

sashimi: sliced raw fish

sasuga ha: "nothing less from", as when a person living up to his reputation or the speaker's personal expectations

satsujinhan-nin: killer/murder; "satsujin" is a shorter version.

sayonara: farwell (as in goodbye forever" or for a long time)

seiyuu: voice actor/actress

sen: a breakdown of Japanese currency

Senpai/Sempai: elder / upperclassman (can be used as a honorific: i.e. Kunou-senpai); anyone who is one's senior in a heirarchical organization

sensei: teacher; it's often used as a suffix after someone's name and indicates that they are very knowledgeable in a certain area. In America "sensei" has a more limited definition as a "martial arts instructor".

senshi: warrior or soldier

sepukku: ritual suicide

shakkin: debt (as in money)

shihondai: assistant master

shikari shite: generally translated as "hang in there!" or "snap ot of it!". "shikari shiro" is the informal male speech version. The literal "snap out of it" is "ii kagen ni shinasai/ii kagen ni shiro" (male speech); it kind of means "behave yourself!"

shikashi: however, but, nevertheless

shikata ga nai: an expression meaning "No help for it", "No way to avoid it", "Nothing left but to deal with it"

shinda: "died"; is the plain tense of "shinu", which means "to die".

shinji: form of the verb "to believe" ("shinjiru")

shinjitsu: truth

shinma: literally "gods" + "demons"

shinpai: worry

Shinto/Shintoism: the netive religion of Japan. Shintoism consists mainly of ancestor worship and the worship of various animal spirits. Shinto temples are distinguished by the large orange-red "Tori" gates placed outside the main temple (these are commonly seen in anime).

shinu: to die "The most inflected forms are, Shinda: dead, Shinanaide!: Don't die!, and Shi'ne!: Die!"

shishou: old term for "master" in the martial arts

shitsure shimasu: lit. "please excuse what I am about to do". It's what you say when you enter someone else's house.

shitsukoi: persistent, relentless, pain in the ass

shogun: warlord

shouji: the sliding rice paper doors in Japanese houses

shounen: boy

shoujo: girl

sonna: such

soo: so (the one word that's the same in Japanese and English)

sore: that

soredemo: however/but

soro soro: soon, "it's almost time", "it is time for...", etc.

soshite: and

sou ka: Isee or "do I?" (the ka indecates a ?)

sou na: no, as in "no, that can't be!" or "no way!"

sou desu ne: yes it is; "sou sou" can mean "oh yeah..."

so-yo: that's true, that's right!

subete: all, everything

sugoi: awesome!, cool!, amazing!, wow!, etc.

suhama: rice cake

suki: affection, liking

sukoshi: literally "to a small degree"; usual translations: a bit, few, slight, slightly, little, some, any sumanu/sumanai/sumimasen= "pardon me" or "excuse me", also translates to "I'm sorry" or even "thank you"; this word has so many variations

sumimasen: Excuse me / I'm sorry ( differs from the American "Excuse me" as it is used when interrupting a conversation, rather than when bumping into somebody)

suru: "to do"; "nani o suru?"= "what are you doing?"

sushi: we all know this one, rice topped with raw fish (or some kind of other sea life) and wrapped in seaweed

tabun: probably

taberu: "to eat"

-tachi:when added to thingd, makes them plural ("hito-tachi": "folk, people" for example)

tadaima: I'm home, I'm back, etc.

taichou: captain, commander

taihen: when modifying an adjective, it means "extremely"

taisetsu na/ni: important (as in "this is very important/special to me")

tamago: egg

tamashii: soul

tanuki: raccoon (tha Japanese raccoon dog, actually)

taousu: defeat (in battle)

tasukeru: to aid

tasukete: help

tataku: to hit, beat, or knock

tatakau: to fight, do battle

tatami: the straw mats that cover floors in traditional Japanese homes

tattaka: fight/battle

tatte: command form of "to stand up"; dictionary form is "tatsu"

teki: enemy

tempura: deep-fried vegetables

tenchuu: devine or heavenly justice

tenshi: angel

to: a particle, means "and" when linking two words

tomodachi: friend

tori: bird, also refers specifically to a chicken or rooster; "tori no atama": "rooster head"

totemo: very, extremely

tsubasa: wings; a single wing is called a "hane"

tsuee: strong, as in "he's strong"

tsugi: next

tsuki: moon (as in the satellite)

tsuzuku: a phrase, "to be continued"

tsuyoi: strong powerful

udon: a king of Japanese noodle

unmei: fate, destiny

uragirimono: traitor

urasai!: "shut up!" or just "be quiet"

ureshii: happy

urusai: noisy

usagi: rabbit

uso: lie

uwasa: rumor

wai!: yay!

wakaru/wakatta/wakarimashita: various forms of "to understand" ("wakaru")

wakaranai: common negative form of "to understand"

wan: the sound a dog makes

wana: trap, snare

"Watashi no ko o unde kudasai": "Please bear my child" (Miroku says it all the time)

yabai: miserable, wretched (situation)

yahari/yappari: literally "as expected"; usually translated as "as I thought", "just as I suspected", "you really are", "can it be that you're?", etc.

yakisoba: pan-fried noodles ("soba" are buckwheat noodles)

yakitori: skewered barbecured chicken

yakusoku: promise, oath

yamete/yamero: casual command forms of "to stop"; "yamete" is feminine usage, "yamero" is masculine

yare yare: oh well, "oh brother", etc.

yarou: very casual way of saying "guy"; often it's used as an insult, in which case is translated as "you jerk" or "bastard!", etc.

yaru: to do, to give, to try, attempt

yasashii: "splendid, exceptional"

yasha: she demon

yatta: "horray!", "banzai!", "he/she/I did it!", and "yay!"

yatto: finally

yen: todays Japanese money

yo: just as in English, this is a really casual greeting

yokai: "roger!"

yokatta: an expression of relief, this is the past tense of "ii" ("good"); it literally means "that was good" but it usually translates as "I'm so glad" or "thank goodness"

yosha!: "all right", "let's go", "let's do it!", etc.

yoshi: an exclamation used when readying oneself to take an important action

youma/youkai: demon; an occult monster

youki: demonic energy

yowai: weak

yuki: snow

yumi/yume: dream

yurusenai!: "I won't allow/permit it!", "I can't forgive this!", etc.; "to forgive/pardon" is "yurusu"

yurusu: to forgive, pardon

yuurei: ghost

zenzen: a negetive modifier, basically means "at all", in use it translates as "that wasn't good at all" or "that was a bad/unfortuneate thing"

zattai!: absolutely!/definitely! This phrase can be translated many, many ways; it basically acts as emphasis to make another word seem stronger.