Generic Japanese question thread

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:23 am

Since it's fun to talk about Japanese in the context of anime and I have nothing better to do, I have these questions:

I don't know much Japanese, but...

1. How many versions "you" are there in Japanese?

Kimi, Temee (long "e"), Onore, Omae, ?Kisama, etc.

How polite are each of these?

Kimi - is usually used if you know each other right? ?^_^?
Omae - is in between polite and rude, but is considered kinda "rough" if a female uses it?
Temee - somewhat rude except if you're yelling at your friend? LOL

Onore - Now this is definitely rude?
?Kisama - is this even used in real life or only in anime? ?^_^?

2. I notice in anime they frequently have the somewhat stuck-up girls/women (often upper class girls) using (-wa) a lot in their speech patterns. People don't talk like this in real life either right? ?^_^?

It's funny how they use the "-wa" speech pattern for the arrogant ojousan anime girls and the polite, upper class girls (ojousans) just about never use it (I've seen a couple of exceptions). I guess they're trying to say that the girl using the "-wa" is somewhat arrogant or in the very least - has a huge amount of confidence in herself?

3. What is the term for a girl that uses "boku" a lot? I heard it once, but I've forgotten the term now.

Asa-sempai in Shuffle is one such girl, but I think her mother (Ama) uses "boku" a lot too. Like mother like daughter I guess.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:24 am

Interesting rationalization. I think to talk about Japanese in the context of anime and he or she have nothing better to do he or she have these questions

he or she do not know much Japanese but is a lot of fun.

aernath · Post by **aernath** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:57 am

Just want to say: Beautiful sig!!!!! The colors are gorgeous!!!

Kimi, I thought was only to someone younger and well known to you - very informal.
Temee, seems to always be translated as "damn you" or somesuch (at least the stuff I watch...

) Seems interchangeable with Kisama.

That's just my best guesses. We'll let the ones who actually know, tell us.

*cups hands around mouth and yells*
Oh, KITTENS!!!!

kittens · Post by **kittens** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:02 am

aernath wrote: Oh, KITTENS!!!!

Here I am

Kimi, Temee (long "e"), Onore, Omae, ?Kisama, etc.

First, I really feel that you do not want to call other person as you... This sounds kinda rude to me no matter how you say....... Usually we call someone with the first name or last name with "san".

Kimi is very often used in real life. But this sounds like you call someone who works for you (like your boss might call you with "kimi".)

Omae is rude...... You might offend someone if you call her or him with it

Onore sounds very old

Also I do not think this means "you" as well..... This means really "Dumn you!"

"Temee" is now pretty bad word and you might want to use when you are flighting

But it is coming from "Temae" which means "in front of hands" So this used to be a formal word......

"Kisama" also means pretty rude "you" and you ganna buy a flight..... But it is also coming from a pretty formal word, which means "Important person".

There is another word which is used often. This is "omae". This is used very often and means really "you". Also this is used when a husband calls his wife. A wife calls her husband "anata", which means "you" as well.....

BTW, "Anata" sounds very nice. So if you want to call someone with "you" you might want to use "anata" or "anata sama" which is a formal version of "you".

Baakay · Post by **Baakay** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:14 am

Wow...

so THAT's what I've been hearing. I'm going to have to listen more closely now. I love being able to spot where the subs are not quite right.

*still at the stage of recognizing the odd phrase or word here and there*

Post by **sensei** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:21 am

OK ... so now some of Syaoran's peculiarities [in CCS] come more into focus. He always calls Sakura "omae ga" (fansubbed "You there!"). So when he starts acting oddly and starts telling her "Watashi wa ... omae ga ... s-- s-- s---" [and something always happens to interrupt them] I think I understand. From what I'm getting, Sakura wouldn't expect "suki da" with those pronouns, given Syaoran's habitual use of the pronoun in a rude way (which she's come to tolerate). So her "cluelessness" about what he's trying to tell her is understandable? And yet, it is something that "husband and wife" might actually say to one another?

Also why Syaoran gets so flustered in the gift shop when he realizes he's called Yukito "anata."

Arigatou gozaimasu, Kittens-sama! Err .. Sensei grabs his "Say it in Japanese (revised edition)" Taihen osewa ni narimashita. Nyuu Youku made okutte moraemasu ka?

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:21 am

Are you kidding? And the what happened?

birdie · Post by **birdie** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:55 am

Thank-you Kittens, you cleared up my confusion over "omae".

The difference between Inuyasha's growled "omae" to Kagome after an "oswari" and Guts' throaty "omae" to Casca after.....ummm....just "after"

Deadly Whispers · Post by **Deadly Whispers** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:02 am

sensei wrote:Also why Syaoran gets so flustered in the gift shop when he realizes he's called Yukito "anata."

Is THAT what it was?

That is so cute! I'm also in the Pick Out a Phrase Here and There phase and didn't catch that one. *runs off to watch that episode again*

~ DW

kittens · Post by **kittens** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:02 am

sensei wrote: Arigatou gozaimasu, Kittens-sama! Err .. Sensei grabs his "Say it in Japanese (revised edition)" Taihen osewa ni narimashita. Nyuu Youku made okutte moraemasu ka?

Are you going to NY????

I can send you to NY if you are going to be there on Dec 28th to 31st

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:02 am

If that works then the problem is not hardware.

Post by **sensei** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:43 am

kittens wrote:Are you going to NY???? I can send you to NY if you are going to be there on Dec 28th to 31st

Actually, I was just there Monday: I'm collaborating with a researcher at a foundation there. But I doubt I'll be back until early January.

If you ever find yourself close to where I-80 and I-81 cross (about 2 hours west of NYC), think of me; I'd be happy to share notes with a follow CLAMP enthusiast.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:43 am

If that works then the problem is not hardware.

kittens · Post by **kittens** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:48 am

sensei wrote: Actually, I was just there Monday: I'm collaborating with a researcher at a foundation there. But I doubt I'll be back until early January.

If you ever find yourself close to where I-80 and I-81 cross (about 2 hours west of NYC), think of me; I'd be happy to share notes with a follow CLAMP enthusiast.

Cool! I will remember!!! I have been in NY city once for a conference (at Columbia University) and NY up-state at Cornell but I really did not have time to look around..... SO I don't know much about NY......

I have not planned anything yet so I will prob contact you if I will be around

That would be soooooooooooooooo cool if we can meet!! (I can translate xxx-holic more details and we can discuss!)

soda · Post by **soda** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:43 pm

I have a question. Do they make inferior eyeglasses in Japan? The reason I ask is because I'm always seeing someone in an anime pushing up their glasses usually in some pretentious way.