As I stated in my previous posts All the Feels, Honorifics, Navigating Genre and Navigating Media, I’m not exactly who you want to have on your Anime Trivia team.
So when I noticed “Baka” being used practically everywhere, my first thought was this…
Sweet, a crossover!
No Kimmie, that is Blanka from Street Fighter. Okay, fine… so it must be a slang term for that sweet stuff, Baklava, right? No?
Seriously, what kind of idiot am I for not even knowing what Baka means?!?! (see what I did there?) Since I am just the absolute best, I’m sharing with you what I learned over the last couple years in a series of posts called A Guide to Common Anime/Manga Lingo for Newbies.
So lets review some terms that Japanese may use to insult people. Enjoy!
(Click on “Pronounce” after each word to hear how to properly say the terms)
Die Already
Kutabare (pronounce) - go to hell. Literally means “Drop dead!”
- From the word Kutabaru which means to die, kick the bucket, etc.
- Shinjimae also means “go to hell”
Shin-e (pronounce) -die
- This is such a taboo word to use that children are taught from a young age not to say Shin-e.
Bukkorosu (Boo-ka-row -o) - great to use when you are about to throw down with someone, Bukkorosu literally means, “I’m going to hit and kill you.”
You…. Yeah, You!
Kisama (kee-sah-mah) - extremely rude way to address someone. It carries a meaning of “damn you” or “you” with a condescending or sarcastic tone.
- Example - “Kisama.…you killed my father!”
Teme (pronounce) - you. Yes, teme literally translates to “you”. So why is this such a terrible thing to say?!? It is all about hierarchy.
- Using the word teme indicates that you think there is a huge gap between you and the person you’re talking to.
- So when a speaker uses the word teme, it indicates that the speaker is far superior to the other person. Essentially, it is the equivalent to calling someone an asshole.
Omae (pronounce) - the Japanese equivalent of “you asshole.”
- Omae is/was intended to be an extremely polite form of ‘you,’ to address one’s superiors
- Some of the Japanese language’s rudest expressions are actually extremely polite phrases and words, that, when used sarcastically or out of context, are rude.
- Omae o korosu - I will kill you Omae wa dare da? - Who the hell are you?
Silence Please
Damare (pronounce) - shut up!
Urusai (pronounce) - shut up; you’re loud (a bit more polite than Damare)
- Literally means “it’s too loud!”
I’m Surrounded by Idiots
Aho (pronounce) - fool, idiot.
Baka (pronounce) - idiot, stupid idea
- “Baka mitai” means to act stupidly, as in “you look like an idiot.”
Oh… That’s Nasty
Kimoi (pronounce)- gross, yuck, creepy.
- From the phrase, “kimochi warui” meaning “I’m feeling bad/sick”
- Kimoi is a slang that teenagers use.
- It can be offensive, but can be used jokingly as well.
Kitanai (pronounce) - dirty
Kuzu (pronounce) - trash; used to imply someone is trashy.
Kuso! (pronounce) - shit
- May not always be said in a hash way. It depends on the speakers tone, inflection, and other modifying words.
- Example: heta kuso literally means “unskilled excrement.” Speakers may use it as a way to say something such as, “I stink at soccer.”
Yabo (pronounce)- describes something/someone who is not pleasing to look at.
- Also used to describe something as being rough, coarse, and vulgar
I’m a Man!
Insults usually hurled at guys
Koshinuke (pronounce) - coward
Yowamushi (pronounce) -weakling; coward. It derives from the words Yowai (weak) and Mushi (insect)
Gesu (pronounce)- lowlife or sleazebag
- Mainly used to reference males.
Kono Yarou (pronounce) - literally means “this guy,” but if said with a harsh tone or inflection, it can translate to “you bastard.”
Ochinchin (pronounce)- dick
Sukebe (pronounce) - pervert, lecher, lustful, obsessed with sexual desire
Waru-mono or Waru (pronounce) - people with bad personalities
- used mainly to reference “bad guys.”
For the Ladies
Insults typically directed at ladies
Manko (pronounce)- woman’s lady bits
Minikui (Men-ne-koo-e) - ugly
- Example - “anata wa minikui desu” means “you are ugly”
- Busu (pronounce) - is used specifically to describe an ugly woman.
Dasai/Dassa (pronounce)- unfashionable, lame, dorky, tacky
- Example: “aitsu wa dasai yatsu da” means “he is lame”
Kuso Majime (pronounce)- too serious, goody-two-shoes
Baita (ba-te-ya) - Whore/Prostitute
Abazure (pronounce)- a lewd person of loose morals.
- can be substituted for the English word “bitch.”
Adding Insult to Injury
Extra insults (for your viewing pleasure)
Debu (pronounce) - fatty, fatso
Manuke (pronounce) - means to suddenly feel things are pointless.
- used to describe someone who is careless and makes alot of mistakes
- Doji is also used to describe people who make many mistakes.
Sono Doyagao Yamete! (So-no Doh-yeh-go Yah-meh-tay) - literally translates to “Wipe that smug look off your face!”
- Doyagao is a slang word meaning “a smug face”
- Yamete means “please stop”
- You can use this when someone is overly cocky or bragging a lot.
Usotauki (pronounce)- liar
Zurui (pronounce)- unfair, selfish, conniving, manipulative
Did I manage to insult you? Remember, this post is ALL in good fun. I’m not suggesting, recommending, encouraging, hoping, or anticipating anyone will use these words to insult each other. Then again, if you do… take video (I need to see this).
Do you have any more insults to add a bit more salt to the wound? Comment below and let me know!
