Abunai (ah-boo-nah-ee)
危ない
あぶない
Adj.
Dangerous. When used as a phrase, it means, "Watch out!"
Ai (ah-ee)
愛
あい
N.
Love.
Aikidou/Aikido (ah-ee-kee-doh-oo)
合気道
あいきどう
N.
Literally meaning the way of energy harmony, aikido is a defensive art. This is an art in which you grab your opponent's blow and react from there, giving you the literal definition. Aoi from "Virtua Fighter" uses aikido.
Akamatsu Ken (ah-kah-mah-tsoo-keh-n)
赤松健
あかまつけん
Birthdate: 1968/7/5. Birthplace: Kanagawa. Mangaka and designer of series such as "Love Hina", "Mahou Sensei Negima!" and "Uta Kata".
1. Akamatsu Ken-sensei.
2. Akamatsu-sensei seen in "Love Hina".
Akanbe (ah-kah-n-beh)
あかんべ
N.
An akanbe is a taunt. The gesture is done by sticking out your tongue and pulling down one of your eyelids. Sometimes, the person has the eye that doesn't have its lid being pulled down closed. It's usually followed by saying "Ida!"/いだ! (ee-dah) or any other silly sound. You see these early on in the "Pocket Monsters" animated series.
Amuro Namie (ah-moo-roh-nah-mee-eh)
安室奈美恵
あむろなみえ
Birthdate: 1977/9/20. Birthplace: Naha, Okinawa. J-pop artist who once was part of the group Super Monkeys and is known for songs such as "Try Me", "Can You Celebrate" and "Sweet 19 Blues", she is a quarter Italian.
Anata (ah-nah-tah)
貴方
あなた
Pn.
You. In general, "you" is not used a lot in Japanese. Though this is the humble way to say it, this is pretty much used for those of the same rank as the speaker. This word also means "Dear" as in what wives call their husbands.
Aneki (ah-neh-kee)
姉貴
あねき
N.
Elder sister.
Aniki (ah-nee-kee)
兄貴
あにき
N.
Elder brother.
Anime (ah-nee-meh)
アニメ
N.
Depending on who you talk to, it means either Japanese animation or animation in general. People say that this word is derived from the French word of animation, but it is actually derived from the word "animation" itself. Whenever I say this word, I use the latter's definition, not just Japanese animation.
Ansatsuken (ah-n-sah-tsoo-keh-n)
暗殺拳
あんさつけん
N.
Literally meaning fist of the assassin, this is known as the art of killing or the art of the assassin. The art is quite common in "Hokuto no Ken". Ryuu, Ken, Gouki, Sakura and Sean as well as Gen of the "Street Fighter" series all use ansatsuken. Even though it doesn't seem like it, Iori, Mature and Vice of "The King of Fighters" all use ansatsuken also.
Anta (ah-n-tah)
あんた
Pn.
You. One of the least formal ways to say it, this is usually said by women. The most well-known use of this word is "Anta baka?" from "Evangelion's" Asuka.
Anti-air attack/Anti-air
アンタイエアー
N.
An anti-air attack is an attack that's common in various games, mainly fighting games. It is meant to attack your opponent who is in the air. One of the first anti-air attacks people saw in their lives is the Shouryuuken from Ryuu and Ken of "Street Fighter".
Arigatou (ah-ree-gah-toh-oo)
有難う
ありがとう
P.
"Thank you". From least polite to most polite, here's the list of phrases to say it:
"domo"/ども (doh-moh), "arigatou", "domo arigatou", "arigatou gozaimasu"/有難うございます/"arigatou gozaimashita"/有難うございました (ah-ree-gah-toh-oo-goh-zah-ee-mah-soo/ah-ree-gah-toh-oo-goh-zah-ee-mah-shee-tah), "domo arigatou gozaimasu"/"domo arigatou gozaimashita".
Atai (ah-tah-ee)
私
あたい
Pn.
I. One of the least common ways to say it, this is said by women. The only two girls I know of that say this form are both Capcom girls: Ayame of "Power Stone" and "Justice Gakuen's" Zaki.
Atashi (ah-tah-shee)
あたし
Pn.
I. One of the least formal ways to say it, this is said by women. Usually, these women are very energetic. Sara of "Love Hina" uses this form and so do Midori of "Separate Hearts", "Street Fighter's" Sakura and "Justice Gakuen's" Hinata and Natsu, though Natsu saying this form means that she's both firm and sensitive as well as one who doesn't get beat easily.
Last update - 2006/11/28