If you watch anime, you have heard sugoi, kawaii and senpai many times. These are real Japanese words. This post covers anime Japanese words: 32 of them with meanings and everyday usage, and where to be careful.
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Reactions and feelings
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| すごい | sugoi | wow / amazing / awesome | Used for praise and surprise |
| かわいい | kawaii | cute | Children, animals, things, anything |
| 本当？ | hontō? | really? | To express surprise |
| まさか | masaka | no way! | Disbelief |
| やった | yatta | I did it! / yay! | Victory or joy |
| よし | yoshi | okay! / right! | Making a decision or getting ready |
| 楽しい | tanoshii | fun | About experiences |
| 強い | tsuyoi | strong | People and things |
| 好き | suki | like | X ga suki desu = I like X |
Everyday conversation
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大丈夫 | daijōbu | okay / it’s fine | To ask and answer how someone is |
| 頑張って | ganbatte | do your best | To encourage someone |
| 待って | matte | wait | With friends; polite form chotto matte kudasai |
| 助けて | tasukete | help! | In an emergency |
| 気をつけて | ki wo tsukete | take care | When saying goodbye |
| 約束 | yakusoku | promise | yakusoku shimasu = I promise |
| 絶対 | zettai | absolutely | To show firm intent |
| ありがとう | arigatō | thank you | Polite: arigatō gozaimasu |
| すみません | sumimasen | excuse me / sorry | Getting attention, apologising and thanking |
People and relationships
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 先輩 | senpai | senior (at school or work) | Not for an equal friend |
| 後輩 | kōhai | junior | The opposite of senpai |
| 先生 | sensei | teacher / doctor | A respectful form of address |
| 友達 | tomodachi | friend | tomodachi to asobu = play with a friend |
| 仲間 | nakama | companions / comrades | For a team or a crew |
| 家族 | kazoku | family | |
| お兄ちゃん | onii-chan | big brother | Affectionate, for your own or someone’s older brother |
| 妹 | imōto | younger sister | For your own younger sister |
Fighting spirit
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 最強 | saikyō | the strongest | sai most + kyō strong |
| 勇気 | yūki | courage | |
| 負けない | makenai | I won’t lose | The negative of makeru (to lose) |
| 行くぞ | ikuzo | let’s go! (with fire) | Mostly male characters; in everyday speech ikimashō |
| やめて | yamete | stop it | Sounds direct and harsh |
| ばか | baka | idiot | An insult; do not say it to real people |
Anime words in real life: 3 cautions
- ばか (baka), ore and omae can be rude when said to strangers or elders.
- Affectionate endings like -chan and -kun should not be attached to just anyone. Read Japanese honorifics explained.
- At the office or in formal settings, you need polite language, which anime often lacks.
How to remember them
- Make one sentence for each word: kyō wa tanoshii desu (I’m having fun today).
- Connect a word to the scene where you heard it, but write the meaning down too.
- Review old words once a week.
Frequently asked questions
What does senpai mean?
先輩 (senpai) means someone more senior than you at school, college or work. It is about who joined first more than about age.
What does kawaii mean?
かわいい (kawaii) means “cute”. It is used for children, animals, clothes and things.
Are these words used in everyday Japanese?
Most are (sugoi, daijōbu, arigatō), but some (baka, omae, ikuzo) are not right everywhere. Pay attention to context and to who you are talking to.
Related reading
- Can You Learn Japanese from Anime?
- Japanese Honorifics Explained
- Japanese Greetings
- Demon Slayer Japanese Words
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