Japanese Guide

This is a small list of some of the Japanese words, terms, cultural information and some other things used in Marmalade Boy and elsewhere.

Name endings: 
In Japan they have relationship endings that are added to the ends of names (like you could call me Lizzy-san!) here are some of them and what they basically mean. 
(Note, I got most of this information from other sources, and some of it is from one web site in particular, only I can't remember which one, but when I do I'll be sure to put a link here and give it credit!!!) 

-chan: 
This is used mainly among girls who are friends. If you use it for guys it can be insulting, or it can be affectionate (usually by shortening the name, then adding -chan). 
(Since his students like him so much, they call Namura-sensei, "Na-chan")

-kun: 
Like "-chan", except for this is mostly for boys. Sometimes it can also be used for girls, too, but not as often. 

-san: 
This is the most common name ending. It is polite, for someone you respect or don't know very well. Basically it's like Mr. or Miss or whatever. 

-sensei: 
This is for teachers. It can also be for like doctors or something, too... but anyway, it's mostly for teachers. (Unless you're Na-chan, and then nobody calls you this and then you get fired.) 

-sempai: 
This is like an "upperclassman" someone who is in a higher grade than you in school or something like that. In my martial arts class, I call everyone who has been studying longer than I have "sempai".  (A variation on this is -senpai, which is what you use for someone you really respect, like a mentor or something.)

-kohai:
This is the word for an "underclassman" thus it is what my sempai would call me.

-sama: 
This is VERY respectful, usually reserved for royalty or someone with much higher standing. (Or when you're really trying to butter someone up.) 

nothing: 
Leaving off a name ending can mean something, too. It can be either familiar or disrespectful. You know how near the end of the series Kei is always trying to get Miki to call him "Kei" instead of "Kei-kun" he wants her to be more familiar with him (I bet...)

Some Words/Terms: 
Here are a few words or terms that are used often in anime and/or on the internet in anime-related sites, or that I just thought you might find helpful. Let me know if there are others that you think I should add to this list. 
 

Kawaii: 
This means "cute" 

Konnichiwa:
"Hello" 

Sayonara:
"Good-bye" 

Ja:
"bye" 

Ohayo:
"Good morning" 

Konbanwa:
"Good evening" 

Arigato:
"Thank you" 
(There are a lot of other ways to say it, too.) 

Oyasumi:
"Good night"
(Like, I'm going to bed now.) 

Aishiteru:
"I love you" 
(Ai means "love") 
(There are more ways to say this, too. Please see the "Love" section below.) 

Baka:
"Idiot" 
(You call someone this, but depending how you say it it can be kind of cute or insulting.) 

Daijoubu:
"It's OK" 
(You can ask someone if they are ok: "Daijoubu?" and they can answer, I'm ok: "Daijoubu.") 

Doushite?:
"Why?" 

Gomen:
"Sorry" 
(or "Gomen nasai" which is like "I'm sorry") 

Itai!:
"Ouch!" 
(bascially, "It hurts!") 

Kowai:
"Scary" 

Nani?:
"What?" 

Ne?:
"Right"
(This is a little thing you can say at the end of sentences, etc. It actually has a lot of different meanings.) 

So ka:
"I see" 

Yamete:
"Stop" 
(Every one I know says just "Yame" but it's probably the same.) 

Wai!:
"Hooray!"

Minna:
"Everyone"

Matte!:
"wait!"
 

More Coming Soon!

"Love"

There are a lot of different words for love in Japanese, kind of how in Enlgish we have "I really like you" or "I love you like a brother" and etc. etc.
Here is a little information on the word love as it relates particularly to episode #25 of Marmalade Boy. I borrowed this from the Tomdachi Marmalade Boy Guide, which is a great site, so you should go there. It was written by Bruce:

"The dialog between Miki and Yuu on the beach gives a perfect example of the three words used for "love" in Japanese. Usually a couple will use "suki" (pronounced "ski"). This word can mean either "like" or "love". This is what Miki and Yuu usually use later in the series (though they often say "daisuki" which means "BIG like/love").

When Yuu is feeling alone, Miki tells him that everyone in the family loves him. She uses the word "ai" which means that you love someone and you know that they also love you back.

After he tells her that she'd be saying the same thing to Ginta, and he implies that he was joking when he said he loved her, she uses the word "koi" for love when she is insisting that she does love him. This word means that you love someone, but you are NOT sure whether or not they love you in return - and exactly presents her feelings at the moment." 
 

For information about anime and manga please visit the very informative sections on them at belldandy.net, one of my favorite sites.
 

More Coming Soon!