Japanese 101 by anna-neko
Educational Credentials on the wonderful Japanese Language: Zero. Nada. Unless you count anime with subtitles, fanfiction and the occasional gorge in the local Japanese restaurant. "Irrashaimase!" is the first Japanese word I learned. "Sushi" being the next. Yummm….
- Bokken - Wooden sword in place of the real thing. Saitoh would call it a "sissy-stick"
- Hentai - Pervert. Can also be "ecchi" and "sukebe", and most times "me".
- Gi - Robe-like shirt. Used by samurai. Pink if you're Kenshin.
- Hakama - Samurai pants with slits from waist to mid-thigh. It isn't for aesthetics nor is it for hentais like me who could peep in on some Kenshin booty. It's just that there were no such things as garters and zippers at the time (I think at least in Meiji Japan), so they had to make those slits so that the wearer can get into the damn things. It's tied up by a sash at the waist. Unfortunately for me, the rest of Kenshin's gi, which is tucked into his pants, covers the skin that might have shown through it.
- Kata - Forms for martial arts.
- Tanuki - Racoon. I prefer it to "skunk" as some have termed it.
- Wakazashi - A short sword. I think I had an ample enough discussing of this in my author's note of "Mind of the Woman" Parts 11-12.
- Oro - Kenshin's exclamation of surprise. Here's how I described it in one of my un-posted fics, courtesy of Kaoru's thoughts:
- Kisama - "You" impolitely. It can translate to bastard, depending of the intensity in which it is said. But I've noticed that in anime, it can be used casually to someone whom a character is openly pissed off about, but not necessarily the "bastard" type.
- Sakabatou - A reversed edge blade. Now who in their right mind would carry around a sakabatou? Kenshin would. Frankly, when the police see him wearing it and decide that he isn't dangerous because it's reversed, I say, "Duh! He just has to flip it over to chop-chop his enemy!" But then, I'm always on Kenshin's side, so…
- Yakuza - Gang. Organized crime sort of thing.
- Kuso - Cuss word. Mustn't utter in front of parents. Well, at least if they're Japanese or if they could understand it. Since my parents aren't Japanese nor could they understand it, I use it. On the dinner table even.
- Gomen - Sorry.
- Sessha - "This unworthy one". If you're Kenshin, it means "I". Isn't he just a self-deprecating SWEETY? There's nothing "sessha" about our rurouni. If only I can tell him that in person, where I can convince him…I can be very persuasive. However, since he's a cartoon and I only act like one, it ain't possible. I'd have to live my fantasies in lemon-fics and the occasional doujinshi.
- Busu - Hag. Personally, I think Yahiko ought to get his eyes checked. Him and Ranma together. They're even blinder than Mousse.
- Koishii - Awwww! This means "darling". I dunno how this started, but it seems to be Kenshin's favorite endearment for Kaoru. Maybe in the twisted world of fanfiction, we authors made it his favorite.
- Douka shita de gozaru ka? - "Is there something wrong?" Kenshin style. He does that "de gozaruyo/ka" thing a lot. He sounds funny, but it's his thing. It smacks of politeness. That's all the "de gozaru" is. It kinda means nothing. It just indicates a formality of some sorts. But Kenshin has adapted it so much into his speech pattern that he uses it ALL THE TIME.
- Arigato - Do I have to define this? Ok, fine! It's "Thank you"!
- Daijobu de gozaru yo - "It's alright" the way Kenshin would say it. Most people would say it like this: "Daijobu desu yo", or "Daijobu desu" or just plain "Daijobu". I would say it this way: "Oh, shape up you sissy! You're alive, aren't you?"
- Chibi - "Little" or perhaps in Kenshin's case no-so-little? Argh! Fantasy! Stop it right now, anna-neko! You've had your fill in this fic and in "The Fires of Amber"! Dun be greedy.
- Hai - Yes. Sweet word. You know why? Here are a few examples to illustrate:
I swear, it's Kenshin's all purpose Save-Your-Ass word. It's what he says when he doesn't know what to say; it's what he says when he knows what to say but doesn't want to say it; and it's also what he says when he figures that whatever he says will do no earthly good for him.
The others think it's what he says when he's surprised. The day Kenshin is surprised is the day I can pull a diamond out of my butt hole. Do they expect me to believe that the skilled and most feared assassin Japan has ever known can be surprised by edged retorts and displays of insanity from his circle of crazy friends? It's an act, I tell you.
(*Godfather music plays in the background and Sano swivels around in a chair to face the audience*) "Iz can tow wiz mi da muz fuz of fut in cutin…" He says in an emphysemic-Brando drawl while making small bobbing motions with his hand, palm open, fingers together.
I look at him like he was stupid. "What?"
Sano stands up and glares at me, then he pulls out a whole wad of stuff from his mouth, flinging it at my face. "I said, I can't talk with my damn mouth full of fucking cotton!"
"Oro!"
- "Kaoru, I love you. Do you love me?" Kaoru's reply, "Hai."
- "Kaoru, I love you. Will you marry me?" Kaoru's reply, "Hai."
- "Kaoru, there's an itch on my back that sessha can't reach, can you scratch it for me?" Kaoru's reply, "Hai."
- "Kaoru, I know the wedding's next week, but sessha loves you very much, so do you think we could…" Kaoru's reply, "Nice try, Kenshin."
- Ne? - "Right?" Personally, I think this is very important. Behold the comparison:
- Otousan - Father. Big Daddy. Pop Diddy. The whole shenanigan, because goodness, I've made Kamiya Tetsuro THE man of the hour, haven't I?
- Ojiisan - Grandfather.
- Sumimasen - This can also be "sorry" but it's more flexible. It can be "Pardon me" or "Excuse me"
- Oyasumi - Good night. And on this note…
Situation 1: Using "Right"
Driver: Where to next?
Navigator: Turn left.
D: Left?
N: Right.
D: So we turn right?
N: No, you moron! We turn left!
D: I said that the first time! Then you tell me right!
N: I was saying you were right to turn left!
Driven and Navigator promptly plummets to their death in a construction pit.
Situation 2: Using "Ne"
D: Where to next?
N: Turn left.
D: Left, ne?
N: Hai.
Driver and Navigator get safely to their destination.
Do you see its importance now? Never underestimate the power of a two-letter word. (And if it's in Japanese, it's just one character)
Ja, mata ato de!
(Bye! 'Till the next chapter!)