It's uncomfortably common that when we surf thru the different manga pages we find totally un-comprhensible japanese terms or phrases, wich make manga unreachable for the common mortal. Well, NEVER FEAR, SAMEOTOKO'S HERE!!! I've complied a list of the most common words or phrases and their meanings for your reading pleasure...

If I missed any, let me know

ANIME
This french word is used in Japan to designate any animation work. Outside Japan, however, it's used to refer to animations with a japanese artistic and/or intelectual origin. Note that even though some american cartoons are produced in Japan, they are not called Anime. In Japan,. the Anime industry is taken as seriously as the film industry in the US.
 
ARIGATO
"Thanks"
 
CHIBBI
"Little", as a descriptive adjective.
 
DOUJINSHI
"Creation or Publication coming from people themselves". It's manga created by fans. in most cases, they take the charactes and universes from famous Manga-kas and create their own stories and cross-overs. It's in the world of Doujinshi where Hentai (read below) versions of famous manga appear, like "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" and "Aa! Megamisama".
 
GAIJIN
In japanese, "Foreigner". Used to designate any non-japanese individual
 
GOMENNASAI
"I'm sorry"
 
HENTAI
Hentai literally means "perverted" and, in some cases, "twisted". It's commonly abreviated as "H", and can apply to both Anime (H-Anime) and manga (H-Manga). It's stories are oriented towards an adult audience because of their explicit sexual content. This genre is quite extense, ranging from comedy to horror. Although in most cases it's only hollow stories, that only make bucks from sex; good, complex, interesting and original stories can be found... with, of course, a good dose of adult content and erotism.
 
JA NE, JA MATA, DEWA MATA
Good-bye phrases. "Ja ne" and "Ja mata" are more informal than "Dewa mata".
 
KAKKOI
"Handsome"
 
KAMIKAZE
The use of this term as "suicidal" has generalized since WWII, when japanese kamikaze pilots crashed their explosive-filled planes against enemy warships... although it really means "Divine Wind". In the XII century, the mongols tried to invade Japan twice... and both times they were stopped by a typhoon... a Kami kaze...
 
KAMISAMA
"God"... it's formed with the words "kami" - divine; and "-sama", a sufix that indicates the highest of respects. By calling Osamu Tezuka the "Manga no Kamisama", we honor him by calling hm the God of Manga in his native language.
 
KAWAII
"Cute". Generally used for girls and babies
 
KIREI
"Pretty" (Female)
 
KONNICHIWA
"Hello"
MANGA
MAN: involuntary; GA: art, drawing... this term is commonly used to refer to japanese comic books... but comic books could be just american manga... why???... keep reading... this form of art dates waaaaaay back, in the X - XII century, when the japanese made litographies with a few images surrounded by text that told a story; usually poems or political messages.
Though often compared with western comic books, the Manga industry represents a huge part of the japanese economy and culture. There are manga about everything and anything, from sports to war to surrealism. Another difference between Manga and comic books, besides the intelectual content, is size. A single, weekly number can be as thick as a text book.
 
MANGA-KA
The author of some manga... who not only writes and creates the concepts of all the characters, but also draws, inks and takes care of the publishing aspects of his work
 
OTAKU
Like "Anime", this term has a different meaning depending on the country it's said in. In Japan, "otaku" is an offensive word, it refers to an antisocial individual, a geek, a nerd. In the rest of the world, however, it's used to designate an obessive fan of anything, most commonly anime or manga (A Trekkie is, therefore, a Star Trek otaku).
 
MECHA [MEKA]
From the word Mechanichs. It's used to refer to robots and mechanical suits of armor. The person in charge of the Mecha designs of an Anime or Manga plays a key role in the production of such work.
SENTO-RYOKU
In the Dragon Ball Z series, the Sento-ryoku is a warrior's fighting power expressed by a number in the fighter's Scouter screen
 
SHOUJO MANGA
"Shoujo" means "girl". This type of Manga is oriented towards a female audience and it generally covers romantic, dramatic or sometimes homosexual topics.
 
SHONEN MANGA
"Shonen" means "boy" Shonen Manga is directed towards a male audience. It covers action, sports, violence and such things...
 
-SAN
Deference is very important for the japanese. Sufixes such as "-san" are added to names to pay respect to people or avoid excesive trust. "-Sama" is far more respectful.
 
SAYONARA
Do u really need the meaning of this???
 
SENSEI
"Master". It refers to an individual who has earned the respect of a group of people, who imitate or assist him in his work
SHIRIMASEN
"I have no idea". It's generally used to answer the questions directed to webmasters ( :P )

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