Learn Japanese by Watching Anime: 10 Phrases and Words Repeated in Every Series

Anime is a fantastic tool for immersion in the Japanese language. Although the dialogues are often dramatic or exaggerated, there is a core of words and phrases that are repeated in almost every series. Hearing these terms repeatedly not only helps you with pronunciation but also teaches you the cultural context of their use.

Here are 10 essential words and phrases guaranteed to speed up your basic understanding of Japanese.

I. 10 Key Anime Phrases and Words (List)

1. Nani (何)

• Pronunciation: Nah-nee

• Meaning: What? / What did you say?

• Context of Use: It is one of the most common words. It is used to express surprise, confusion, or when a character didn't understand something. In anime, it is often shouted as an exclamation of disbelief.

2. Sugoi (すごい)

• Pronunciation: Soo-goi

• Meaning: Amazing! / Awesome! / Great!

• Context of Use: A very versatile adjective or exclamation used to express admiration for something big, powerful, talented, or impressive.

3. Kawaii (かわいい)

• Pronunciation: Kah-wah-ee

• Meaning: Cute / Adorable

• Context of Use: It is the adjective of affection par excellence. It is used to describe characters, clothes, animals, or anything that is cute. It is a very common word in popular culture.

4. Baka (バカ)

• Pronunciation: Bah-kah

• Meaning: Idiot / Stupid

• Context of Use: The most common and mild insult. It is often used jokingly, out of frustration, or as an affectionate, teasing term between friends or rivals.

5. Sensei (先生)

• Pronunciation: Sen-sei

• Meaning: Teacher / Professor / Doctor / Expert

• Context of Use: It is a formal honorific and is used to address anyone who teaches or is an expert in a specific field (school teacher, martial arts instructor, doctor, author).

6. Gomen/Gomennasai (ごめん/ごめんなさい)

• Pronunciation: Goh-men (informal) / Goh-men-nah-sai (formal)

• Meaning: Sorry / Excuse me

• Context of Use: Gomen is the casual form used with friends. Gomennasai is more formal, although in anime both are constantly used to apologize for mistakes, big or small.

7. Oishii (おいしい)

• Pronunciation: Oh-ee-shee

• Meaning: Delicious!

• Context of Use: You will hear this word in virtually any food scene. It is the standard reaction of appreciation for food.

8. Yatta! (やった!)

• Pronunciation: Yah-tah!

• Meaning: I did it! / Yay! / Victory!

• Context of Use: An expression of joy, relief, or success. It is shouted after winning a battle, solving a problem, or completing a difficult task.

9. Daijoubu (大丈夫)

• Pronunciation: Dai-yoh-boo

• Meaning: It's okay / No problem / Are you alright?

• Context of Use: It is both a question (Daijoubu ka?) and an answer. It is used to ask or confirm that someone is safe or that something is fine.

10. Arigatou (ありがとう)

• Pronunciation: Ah-ree-gah-toh

• Meaning: Thank you

• Context of Use: The polite way to say thank you. Although Domo Arigatou or Arigatou Gozaimasu are more formal, Arigatou is the version you will hear most often in daily situations between friends and peers.

II. Conclusion

Mastering these 10 phrases will allow you to grasp 50% of the reactions and 90% of the basic interactions between characters. Pay attention to the tone and context in which they are used: this will teach you more about the culture of the language than any textbook.