General Language Notes

1)    Insults.  Mostly, these come in the form of impolite pronouns.  Words like “kisama” and “yarou” aren’t technically dirty names, they’re just very impolite.  Occasionally, as is the case with school children, these can become as creative as most American insults, ranging from impugning a person’s intelligence to impugning their direct genetic makeup.

2)    Plurals.  The only way of expressing plural (aside from using numbers) is with a special noun ending.  The suffix “-tachi” is the polite way of doing this; it expresses a group of things.  For instance, “Bob-san-tachi” means Bob and whoever happens to be associated with him by context – this could mean all the people sitting at the same table with Bob, all of Bob’s closest friends, Bob’s closest coworkers, or whatever.  The suffix “-ra” is the impolite/informal way of doing this, and in shounen anime, this is the version you will probably see most often.  It is almost exclusively used with pronouns.  “Omaera” means “all of you” or “you guys,” as does “kisamara.”  “Bokura” means “us,” and can be applied to two people, a family, or a large group of people.  Note: these plural suffixes can only be used when speaking about people, or about things to which you are assigning human-like traits (like animals, if a show happens to include anthropomorphic animals).

3)    “Girl-speak” and “guy-speak.”  In general, there is a distinct separation of dialect between genders.  There are certain pronouns, particles, and sentence patterns that are very abrupt and somewhat rude, and are only meant to be used by men.  If a girl uses these, she is looked upon as unladylike, and if a boy uses very polite patterns, he is seen as “girly.”  For example, the four most common pronouns for “I/me”, in order of descending politeness, are “watakushi,” “watashi,” “boku,” and “ore,” the last two of which are male pronouns, but which some tomboys and members of girls’ gangs use to sound more forceful.  Girls can slide certain syllables together, or omit certain initial consonants to sound more “cutesy” – as with “atashi” instead of “watashi” and “juu-hassai” instead of “juu-hachi-sai.”  Guys tend to alter final vowel sounds; final “oi,” “ai,” and “ae” sounds usually become “ee” – as in “baka ja nee” instead of “baka ja nai,” “omee” instead of “omae,” or “sugee” instead of “sugoi.”  Additionally, the direct object particle is usually pronounced “wo” by girls and “o” by guys.  Note: this peculiar particle can also be pronounced “wo” or “o” depending upon the sound that comes immediately before it.

4)    Pronunciation.  In general, the five vowel sounds are always pronounced the same way in Japanese (there are actually times when the tones alter slightly, have something approching emphasis and deemphasis, etc., but you can speak nearly-perfect Japanese without knowing anything about those).  “a” is like “father,” “i” is like “magazine,” “u” is like “crude,” “e” is like “empty,” “o” is like “stone.”  The only vowels that can “disappear” are “u” and “i”; there is no such thing as a “silent e” in Japanese, so please pronounce the word “kage” as “kah-geh,” not “cage” (it is somewhat mangled, but still more acceptable to say it “kah-gay”).  As you can see, the “ga” series of syllables (even “ge”) always have what is considered “soft pronunciation” – that is, the “g” will always be said like “get,” never like “generic.”  On the subject of diphthongs (blended vowel sounds, the way the “ou” in “ouch” sounds like “ow”), there are only three true diphthongs in Japanese – “ae,” “ai,” and “oi.”  A doubled vowel is a “long vowel” (“oo” and “ou” are two ways to write “long o,” just as “ee” and “ei” are two ways to write “long e,” and have a very subtle difference of pronunciation that even most Japanese don’t bother learning or making…it’s mostly just a difference in “spelling” for them), and a pair of differing vowels other than the three diphthongs are pronounced as two separate vowels (“uo” is “oo-oh,” “ie” is “ee-eh” or sometimes “yeh,” etc.).  It is also acceptable to omit diphthongs entirely, and just pronounce every vowel separately.  The part that tends to be troublesome for English-speakers is the subject of “doubled consonants.”  Japanese call these “skip consonants” or “small-tsu syllables” (because of the way they are written in hiragana and katakana, with a half-size “tsu” syllable in front of a consonant syllable).  They occur most often with “ka” and “ta” series syllables and are most easily pronounced in the following manner – “yatta” as “yaht-tah.”  As you say it more quickly, your tongue will make the beginning of the sound, stay there for a little bit, and then finish the sound, making the “skip.”  Two series of doubled consonants to be careful of are the “nna/nma/mma” series and the “ppa” series – “nna/nma/mma” is the only set of doubled consonants made without the “tsu” syllable as a marker, instead putting the “ending n” before the “na” or “ma” series syllable; the “ppa” series of syllables can also be pronounced with the equivalent “ha” series syllable (the same way that “Nippon” becomes “Nihon”) because of a bunch of minor evolutions of pronunciation that I won’t go into here; but it doesn’t matter much, since you generally won’t see or hear the “ppa” series these days with very few exceptions (like “ippai,” which means “full” or “lots of”).

6)    Honorifics.  Honorifics and the honorific forms of verbs and nouns are used to express the complicated social relationships between people.  For the most part, Japanese has a “semi-formal” dialect that is taught in schools and is considered “good grammar” and can be used in most situations without causing offense, a “formal” dialect that includes extremely polite forms of verbs that are meant to be used in situations like a store clerk speaking to a customer (or a sarariman to someone much higher up the food chain, or a man to his future in-laws, etc.), and an “informal” dialect that’s mostly used by young people among themselves.  An extremely common honorific form to hear in stores and restaurants is “irasshaimase,” which comes from the honorific form of “iru.”  As far as honorifics attached as titles, there is an intricate web of these, derived from combinations of titles, ranks, professions, politeness-levels, and dialectical differences.  In order of most-formal to least-formal, the most common honorifics in manga/doujin/modern novels are:  shachou (company president), kaichou (division president), ﷓sama (sir), shishou (master [as in the kind who takes apprentices, not the kind who keeps slaves]), sensei (teacher/professional), -san (Mr./Ms.), (o)jisan/(o)basan (uncle/aunt, used toward middle-aged semi-strangers), (o)neesan/(o)niisan (older sister/older brother, used toward teen to twenties semi-strangers), buchou (club president), -kun (toward younger people, especially boys), -chan (toward much younger people, especially girls.  In historical settings (like Rurouni Kenshin), you may see court-language (a “super-formal” dialect) and the outlawed samurai dialect, which include such honorifics as heika (Your Majesty), -tono (lord) or tonosama (great lord) (both usually reserved for powerful daimyou or the shougun), -dono (lord/lady).  Using no honorific is considered less polite than using one.  Using the most accurate honorific is considered more polite than using a generalized one (other than -sama, but people may think you’re making fun of them if you run around using -sama all the time).


These and other such notes, such as social class, will usually be included in the dictionary entry, in as clear a way as I can state them.

Dictionary
Sample Entry:
entry (endings, typical particles) = definition (notes, lit. translations)

aa = yes
aa…ame da = oh, it’s raining (it’s pretty typical of the Japanese to plainly state the weather like this)
aa…iie = oh…nothing (lit. “oh…no”)
abunai = that was close! (lit. “dangerous”)
abunee = male emphatic form of “abunai”
acchi = male emphatic form of “atsui”
ahou = idiot (very strong/rude)
aishiteiru = I love you (lit. “I am loving you”, derived from the verb “aisuru,” which means “to do love”; this is a very strong confession of love which most Japanese will only use in bed)
aiyaa = mild negative exclamatory along the lines of “ah, hell…”
aneki = an affectionate form of “older sister” (slightly impolite, so it’s usually only used between very close siblings or by a younger sibling who is at least teenaged)
aniki = an affectionate form of “older brother” (slightly impolite, so it’s usually only used between very close siblings or by a younger sibling who is at least teenaged)
anou = um
anou sa = used to change the subject (similar to “hey, guess what” but lit. “um, hey”)
arigatou = thank you
arigatou gozaimasu = slightly more polite form of “arigatou”
aru = to be (inanimate objects)
atsui = hot (for weather and objects)
(o)baasan = grandmother/old lady
-baba = informal honorific – abbreviation of “baasan,” which means “grandma” or “old lady”
(name) no baka = stupid (name)
baka = idiot (can also be used as an honorific…of sorts)
baka mita(i) = how stupid! (lit. “(it/that/you) resemble(s) foolishness”)
bakagitsune = stupid fox
bakayarou = stupid jerk
(name)(-honorific) (wa/ga) banzai = a cheer along the lines of “go (name)!” (lit. “(name), a hundred years!” to mean “may (name) live/rule a hundred years!”; Japanese people cheer almost anything with this word these days, especially if they think it’ll give them an excuse to drink)
(o)basan/(o)bachan = forms of “Aunt”; used to refer to middle-aged women
batsu = punishment
(o)benttou = packed lunch (always includes rice, usually comes in a cute little lacquer box; also comes in a cheap plastic variety available at convenience stores)
betsu ni = nothing
bijuu = nine powerful demons, each with a different number of tails and named for that number (e.g. Ichibi the raccoon, Kyuubi the fox)
Byakko Bakudan = White Tiger Explosion (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Byakko Rin = White Tiger Ring (not an official jutsu; invented for th purposes of fanfiction)
ch’ = often translated as a miscellaneous sound effect, this is actually a moderate form of swearing (similar shock value to just saying “shit” or “dammit” for no reason; Japanese people will blink politely at you if you say it)
chakra = a mix of spirit and body energies that all ninja use for their special techniques
-chan = honorific for much younger people or younger girls, also used in affection or derision toward a boy
chibi = shrimp/shorty (lit. “small”)
chidori = lit. “thousand birds”; Kakashi’s only original attack, named for the sound it makes; a chakra-charged straight thrust at high speeds (without sharingan, it’s easy to be countered doing this, and Kakashi was injured the first time he used it in battle because of that)
chigau! = no way!/wrong!/yeah right! (lit. “mistaken”)
chikushou = usually translated as “damn you/him/it/her” (lit. “beast” or “you beast!”)
chou = basically, this means “lots” or “big time” or “super”; it indicates a large degree of something, as when Tazuna the bridge builder says that things are “chou abunee” – “super dangerous” (actually, he uses it a lot more than just that; at least once every sentence, pretty much…)
chuunin = journeyman ninja
daimyou = feudal lord (daimyou is the highest rank under shougun (warlord), which is the highest rank under Emperor; so in this case, the daimyou are probably the actual feudal officials of Fire Country itself, and thus as a group, slightly higher in social status than the Hokage in peacetimes)
daisuki (na/da/yo) = i love you (lit. “i like you a lot”, strongest confession of love for most Japanese)
(dai)suki datteba yo = i love you, i tell you (impolite emphatic)
Dakara, Hokage wa ore no yume da = that’s why (becoming) Hokage is my dream
dakara sa, ___ = that’s why ___; so ___ (implies a slight change of subject)
dame da yo = stop it (informal emphatic)
dame (desu) = it’s no good/it won’t do
dango = a kind of round dumpling generally made from rice flour (in Hokkaidou, you can find potato dango, too) in either a sweet or savory flavor, depending on the other ingredients; the kind most commonly seen in anime/manga are called botchan/bocchan dango, and consist of three dango on a skewer: a pink one that takes its color from sweet red bean paste, a yellowish-white one that takes its color from eggs, and a green one that takes its color from green tea
datte sa = used as a mild subject change; a form of “however”
___, datteba yo = used for emphasis (lit. “___, I tell you!”)
deeto wo shimasu nano yo = i’m going on a date! (emphatic)
Densetsu no Sannin = The Legendary Trio:  Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru
dewa ike = well then, we can go (often translated simply as “let’s go”)
dobe = dead last
donburi = rice with fried egg on top (occasionally with other things on top as well, such as fried meats, veggies, and a sauce; putting strawberries on your donburi is generally considered weird)
Doton: Do Shouheki = Earth Element: Earth Barrier (based on an official wood element technique)
Doton: Dosekiryuu no Jutsu = Earth Element: Rockslide Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
dou shitanda = what’s wrong? (inviting explanation)
doumo = a sort of abbreviation of “thanks” that can be used at all politeness levels
douzo = please
douzo yoroshiku = pleased to meet you (lit. “please take care of me”)
eiga = movie
ero-baka = pervert-idiot, one of Tsunade’s nicknames for Jiraiya
ero-sennin = pervert-hermit, the typical nickname for Jiraiya
etou = er/that is/uh
gaki = brat (a gaki is actually a demon that never stops eating; Japanese parents often refer to their children as gaki  ^_^)
gama-baka = toad-idiot, an old nickname for Jiraiya
gama-sennin = toad-hermit, the title Jiraiya normally insists upon
ganbare = do your best (emphatic)
ganbarimasu = do your best/let’s do our best/I’ll do my best
ganbaru datteba yo = i’ll do my best, i tell you (informal emphatic)
ganbatte = good luck (lit. “do your best”)
geisha = very prestigious courtesans; it is rumored that, during times of war, the best geisha were trained in assassination; they were sent to ‘entertain’ enemy dignitaries and then kill them during/after the ‘festivities’ (please be aware that only some geisha were also prostitutes; most geisha were not)
genin = novice ninja
genjutsu = ninja abilities which use chakra to affect the mind
genkai = limit
genkan = the part of a Japanese foyer where shoes are kept
geta = Japanese slippers or clogs, similar in design to flip-flops/thong sandals but with a simple wooden sole; the height and design varies (Jiraiya, for instance wears geta of a fairly ridiculous height)
Go = a Chinese strategy game involving the placement of glass beads on the corners of a grid; it is a game of capturing territory by surrounding it in your color (kind of like a simple version of Risk); Go is considered one of the easiest-to-learn but hardest-to-master strategy games ever invented
goban = board used for the game of Go
gochisou = a less polite version of “gochisousama” (beware: you may offend the cook if you say this, as it seems like you’re only saying it because you have to in order to leave the table)
gochisousama (deshita) = said after meals, usually as you leave the table or as someone gathers up the dishes to wash (lit. “(it was) a feast”)
Godaime-Hokage = fifth Hokage (the fifth of the village leaders for Hidden Leaf, i.e. Tsunade)
Godaime no Kazekage = Kazekage the Fifth (the fifth of the village leaders for Hidden Sand), i.e. Gaara (his father was the fourth)
gomen (nasai) = sorry
hai = yes
hai-hai = yeah, yeah
hai sou = yes, that’s right
hakama = pleated pants worn over kimono, especially during martial arts and swordplay; traditionally worn by samurai
hanase = let go (informal emphatic)
haori = Japanese formal jacket, much like a short kimono; often display house crests (crests may appear at the shoulder of each sleeve, on either side of the jacket’s breast, and large or small on the back)
hashi = chopsticks
hebi-teme(e) = snake-bastard, Jiraiya’s old nickname for Orochimaru
heta = (you’re/he’s/she’s) unskilled / lousy (at something)
hidoi = (you’re/that’s) terrible
-hime = princess (an affectionate/worshipful honorific for a woman who is important to the household or village; for instance, Tsunade, whose grandfather was Shodaime Hokage)
hisashiburi (da na) = long time, no see / it’s been a while (male informal)
hitai-ate = forehead protector
hontou = really/truly
hontou da zo = Really?! (informal emphatic) (“zo” is a male sentence ending particle, so it’s exceptionally uncouth of Kane-chan to say this)
hora(a) = an exclamatory sound, similar to “hey!” or “aha!” depending on context (somewhat impolite)
hou = miscellaneous sound effect expressing a certain amount of pleasant surprise
hou = release; a focusing word which is used to execute more than one jutsu simultaneously (similar to “kai,” which means “dispel” and is used to help a ninja escape genjutsu)
Icha Icha Itaanetii = Come Come Eternity, continuation of Kakashi’s favorite erotic novel series; bound in navy blue
Icha Icha Paradaisu = Come Come Paradise, Kakashi’s favorite erotic novel series (there was a second series called Icha Icha Baiorensu); bound in orange; and yes, the title is just as dirty as it sounds
Icha Icha Yaoi = Come Come Yaoi (plotless male-male sex), Sakura’s favorite erotic novel series; bound in lurid pink
ii ko = good boy (lit. “good child”)
ii na = (that’s) good
iie = no/it was nothing
ikouze = let’s go (impolite emphatic, demanding agreement)
Inazuma Buyou, Inazuma no Kuchiyose = Lightning Dance, Lightning Summoning (this is a bloodline limit jutsu, invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Inazuma Buyou Saigo no Jutsu, Kaminari no Tsume = Lightning Dance Final Technique, God-Spear Talons ("god-spear" refers to a single bolt of lightning) (this is a bloodline limit jutsu, invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Inazuma Buyou Saigo no Kuchiyose, Rairyuuha = Lightning Dance Final Summoning, Great Thunder Dragon (this is a bloodline limit jutsu, invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Inazuma Buyou, Shigumo no Jutsu = Lightning Dance, Death-Spider Technique (this is a bloodline limit jutsu, invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Inazuma Buyou, Subete wa Muda ni Nare = Lightning Dance, Everything Becomes Useless (this is a bloodline limit jutsu, invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
iindarou = that’d be great, wouldn’t it
irasshai(mase) = welcome (form used by shopkeepers) (lit. “there’s someone honorably here”; conversely, if you walk into a shop and don’t see a clerk, you call out “irassharu?” or “irasshaimasu ka?” – “is anyone honorably here?”)
Itachi-kun no otousan = Itachi’s dad (medium polite)
Itachi-(kun/niisan) no otouto-chan = ‘Itachi’s baby brother’ [Sasuke]; otouto means younger brother, and -chan is a diminutive honorific (usually for very young people, considered a ‘cutesy’ sort of word)
itadakimasu = said before eating a meal (lit. “I’m about to partake”)
itai = ow (lit. “painful”)
ite = ow (you can repeat the last syllable as much as you want; it’s like saying ‘owowowowowow.’)
…ittai? = …the hell? (it’s hard to explain… “ittai nani” and “nani wa ittai” are like “what the hell/what in the world?” so saying “ittai” by itself is just leaving out the “what” part)
ittai nani = what the hell is it?/what the hell do you want?
ittai naze = why the hell?/why the hell not?
ittekimasu = said as you are leaving; roughly “I’m going, but I’ll come back”
itteku = a less polite version of “ittekimasu”
itterasshai = said as someone’s leaving; roughly “please go and come back”
jaa = well then (can mean “goodbye” in certain contexts)
jiji = abbreviation of “jiisan,” which means “grandpa” or “old man”
jinchuuriki = the human vessels which house the bijuu (e.g. Gaara, Naruto); not all bijuu are confined to jinchuuriki
(o)jisan/(o)jichan = forms of “Uncle”; used to refer to middle-aged men
jounin = elite ninja
jutsu = ninja skill; uses chakra
juzu = buddhist rosary
(o)kaasan/(o)kaachan = forms of “Mom”
kaerouze = let’s go (demanding agreement)
kaette, onegai = come home, please (emphatic request)
kagayaku = sparkle/glimmer
kage = shadow; in Naruto this is generally a reference to the leaders of the five main villages (Sunagakure :: Kazekage, Iwagakure :: Tsuchikage, Kumogakure :: Raikage, Kirigakure :: Mizukage, and Konohagakure :: Hokage)
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu = Shadow Clone Technique, Naruto’s trademark move
kaikan = a small sword, a bit longer than a knife, carried mostly by women, usually tucked into their clothing (Fuu of Samurai Champloo carries one)
kaiten = the Hyuuga defensive spin technique (lit. “revolution”)
kanarazu sou = it will definitely be that way (more literally, “with everything i’ve got, it’ll be that way!”) (this would normally be said “sou kanarazu”)
kane = gold/money
kanji = Chinese ideograms used to distinguish between various homonyms in Japanese
katana = Japanese longsword; a curved sword with a blade approximately one meter in length
kawarimi = the replacement jutsu; most commonly, a ninja will use it to swap places with a chunk of wood in order to avoid an attack
(boku/boku wa) ki o tsukeru = I’ll take care/be careful
ki o tsukete kudasai = please take care (lit. “Please hold on to your [spirit]”)
Kikaichuu = the swarm of insects that takes residence in each member of the Aburame clan; they eat chakra and have an excellent sense of smell regarding other insects
kimono = traditional Japanese outerwear, like a slightly heavier yukata (lit. “things for wearing”)
kishou = scarce, rare
kitsune = fox
kitsune ramen = ramen topped with strips of fried tofu
kitto = surely/definitely
koko sa = here!/look!
konban wa = good evening (lit. “as for this evening”)
Konoha no Sannin = The Leaf Trio, another way of reffering to the “Densetsu no Sannin”
Konoha no Sato = Leaf Village, in reference to the civilian aspect of the village (compare to “Konohagakure” = “Hidden in Leaves,” which refers more to the military aspect of the village)
konnichi wa = good day (lit. “as for this day”)
korosu = i’m going to kill [you]
(o)kotowari = rejected/denied
kouhai =  underclassman/underling; the opposite of senpai (it’s considered rude to call someone “kouhai” or use it as an honorific, but you can refer to a person or group of people as being kouhai to you)
kowai = (it’s/she’s/you’re) scary
kuchibiru = kiss
Kuchiyose no Jutsu = Summoning Jutsu
-kun = honorific for younger people, especially boys
kunai = ninja throwing knife (y’know the ones with the little loopies on the end for twirling/tying/etc.)
kunoichi = female ninja (comes from the strokes that make up the character for ‘onna,’ which means ‘female’ – they look like hiragana ‘ku’, katakana ‘no’, and kanji ‘ichi’)
kuso/k’so = moderate expletive (lit. “shit” usually translated as “dammit”)
Kuuchin Kekkai = Void Barrier (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Kuuchin Teichou = Void Spikes (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Kyuubi no Kitsune = Nine-Tailed Fox
k’so ___ = shitty ___ ; damn ___ (e.g. “k’so nezumi” = “damn rat”)
maa = comforting sound
machigainai = no mistake
machinasai = please wait
makaserou = leave it to me (informal emphatic)
masaka = impossible/definitely not
mattaku = indeed/really (usually used in exasperation)
mattaku mou = exasperated exclamation along the lines of “oh, REALLY!” or “HONESTLY!”
matte = wait
mendokusee na = (it’s/that’s) troublesome (Shikamaru’s tagline) (male informal)
migaku = to polish (like teeth or floors)
minna = everyone
mirin = rice wine for cooking
mitsuketa = found (him/her/it/you)!
Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu = Water Clone Technique (a forbidden jutsu of Kirigakure)
(o)mochi = rice pudding (usually sweetened) of a doughy consistency; good mochi should be chewy and stretchy, almost like gum
moe = a moe is a minor fetish (often nonsexual) for something, especially hobbies that take up a lot of a person’s time; the most common moe obsession is the cat-eared girl/boy; recently, however, the term “moe” has come to simply mean “fanservice,” and can be squealed at high volume at appropriate moments (a pair of bishounen end up in a randomly compromizing or suggestive position, a busty girl has a drink randomly spilled on her shirt, a hot seme-type guy randomly takes his shirt off to do something manly, etc. … some more prominent moe moments include the “snake-crucified Sasuke” clip in the first Shippuuden opening, the nude flyby of Kana in the FullMetal Panic! opening, and the shirtless Chad rear-view in the latest Bleach filler opening)
Mokudon: Wakare no Jutsu = Wood Element: Separation Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Mokudon no Jutsu = generic wood technique (used by Yamato to manipulate nearby wood)
mou = a sound of exasperation, somewhere along the lines of “jeez…”; literally, it has a meaning close to “already,” and can be used accordingly in phrases (e.g. “mou ittanda” = “as it happens, I already went”)
Nanadaime = seventh (as in Seventh Hokage, the seventh of the village leaders for Hidden Leaf)
nanda = what is it?/what do you mean?/what do you need?
nande = why/for what reason? (lit. “with what”)
nani = what
nante mendokusai = how toublesome
nanto iimasu = the beginning of “nanto iimasu ka”, which means “what are you saying?”
naruhodo (ne) = I see
naruto = little fish-cakes often put in ramen (i think you can get them dehydrated here in the US of A)
ne = restates a question (like “huh?” or “right?”)
nebaa gibappu desu = the battle-cry of every genki schoolgirl (horrible Engrish “never give up!”)
Necchan = Ino’s nickname for Neji; a common way of forming nicknames for your boyfriend is to take a short version of his name and add ‘chan’ to the end, but in this case it would be ‘ne-chan,’ which sounds too much like ‘neechan’ (older sister), so Ino made it Necchan instead, holding out the consonant to avoid any confusion
nee = little thoughtful/exclamatory sound (like, “oh, hey!” or something like that; considered gentler than “oi”, and somewhat ‘girly’)
(o)neesan/(o)neechan = forms of “older sister”; used to refer to an older girl you look up to; some women may insist on this as an honorific, so that they don’t feel old
Nidaime-Hokage = second Hokage
nigerou = run! (informal imperative) (do not confuse with “hashiru”; “nigeru” has the connotation of “to run away” or “to flee,” whereas “hashiru” is just plain “to run”)
(o)niisan/(o)niichan = forms of “older brother”; used to refer to an older boy you look up to
nin = person (in Naruto, this is usually in reference to a person of a particular village [it may actually be transcribed from the first kanji in the word ‘ninja,’ but I haven’t seen any Naruto manga raws]; e.g. “rain nin” = person from the rain village)
ninja-to = a blade a little longer than a wakizashi, but not as long as a katana (around two feet long; better reach than a wakizashi, better speed and maneuverability than a katana; lit. “ninja-sword”)
ninjutsu = ninja techniques (like transformations and illusions), require chakra for use
ninmu ryoukai = mission acknowledged
nozomu = to wish, to hope
nukenin = missing shinobi; shinobi who have run away from their village and must be hunted down before they spread village secrets (lit. “escaped person”)
obaasama = grandmother/old lady (very polite)
obi = the sash (or collection of sashes) used to tie a kimono
oboeteiru no = do you remember? (informal)
oboeteiru = i remember
ohagi = sweet rice balls (often lightly toasted)
ohayou (gozaimasu) = good morning (lit. “it is honorable early.”  o_0)
oi = hey! (usually used by men; women tend to use “nee” instead of “oi”)
ojamashimasu = said when entering someone else’s house (lit. “I’m in your way”)
ojamasuru = a less polite version of “ojamashimasu”
okaeri = welcome home (lit. “honorable return”)
okawari = seconds! (lit. “honorable replacement”)
okyakusama = honorable customer
omedetou (gozaimasu) = congratulations
omiai = Japanese-style arranged marriage (and associated meetings)
oneesama = a form of “older sister” (very polite)
onegai = please (polite, for tasks) (lit. “honorable wish”)
onsen = hot spring (also applied to hot-spring-style spas and bathhouses)
ookiku natta (ne) = you’ve gotten big/grown up (haven’t you?) (usually, you only say this to a much younger relative you haven’t seen in a while—to an extent, this will make an adult or older teen feel very childish)
ore mo = me too/I’m the same way
oshiete kudasai = please, teach me (polite)
ossu = yes sir
otaku = fangirl/fanboy (of just about anything, but usually anime or manga; lit. “honorable home,” to imply that he or she never leaves the house)
Otousama = very polite form of “Father”
otouto = younger brother
otsukaresama deshita = great work/you’ve worked hard (lit. “it was honorable fatigue/efforts”)
owari = (the) end
oyaji = a form of “old man” (this is the same “oya” that is used to make honorific forms of the parent terms: “haha-oya” and “chichi-oya”)
oyasumi (nasai) = good night (lit. “honorable rest”; you can say it any time you’re getting ready to go to sleep, not just at night)
o-zarei = the most formal bow, made from the seated position, in which one’s forehead is touched to or brought very near to the floor (similar to Chinese kowtow); should not be confused with “dogeza,” the so-called “begging pose,” which is performed from a kneeling position
Raiton: Raidama = Lightning Element: Lightning Sphere (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Rei Kyuushuu = Zero Absorption (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Rokudaime = sixth (as in, Sixth Hokage, the sixth of the village leaders for Hidden Leaf, i.e. Naruto)
Rokudaime-Hokage = Sixth Hokage (the sixth of the village leaders for Hidden Leaf), i.e. Naruto (because Tsunade is/was fifth)
Rokudaime no Hokage = Hokage the Sixth (more formal than “Rokudaime-Hokage”)
rorikon = short for “Lolita Complex,” from the novel Lolita; refers to a situation involving young girls (below the age of consent) acting more adult, being in the company of adults, or engaging in sexual acts (with an adult or otherwise); the word can be applied to a person as well, to indicate that the person likes young girls (in an inappropriate or suspicious way); you may also see this spelled “lolicon,” and you may see the related term “shotakon/shotacon”
ryoukai = acknowledged/roger (used in military settings)
Sabaku Kyuu = Desert Coffin
Saiki Inazuma, Ryuuiki no Jutsu = Final Level Lightning, Dragon Breath Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
sake = rice wine, the booze of choice for most japanese
‘Sakura-sensei’ tteba yo = that’s ‘Sakura-sensei,’ i tell you (impolite emphatic)
-sama = honorific for people far superior to the speaker
samui = cold (for weather only; this is the form you would use to say that you’re feeling cold)
samurai = traditional Japanese swordsmen, bound by the Confucian-esque code of Bushidou (the way of the warrior); a swordsman could only be called samurai if he had a master to serve (otherwise he was “rounin” – “masterless,” a grave dishonor) and if he followed the code of Bushidou (infractions of the code were spread around to other samurai, and if you violated the code too severely, it was likely that someone would hunt you down and kill you); samurai are portrayed rather negatively in Naruto, apparently working for the highest bidder as little more than mercenaries, but samurai were once the most prestigious class in all of feudal Japan
-san = honorific for those equal to or slightly superior to you, more or less equivalent to “Mr./Ms.”
Sandaime = third (as in Third Hokage, the third of the village leaders for Hidden Leaf)
Sandaime-Hokage = third Hokage, i.e. Sarutobi (the old guy who is Hokage when the series begins, currently deceased)
sannin = in Naruto, three of the greatest ninja of Konohagakure – Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade (lit. “three people”)
sashimi = raw (or nearly raw) meat, sliced thinly and eaten plain or with a small amount of wasabi or soy sauce (these two are supposed to always be kept separate when eating sushi or sashimi, but lots of japanese people mix them anyway)
sasuga desu ne = it’s to be expected, isn’t it?
Sasuke ga inai no samishiku omotteirusa = i miss you [Sasuke] (more literally “having you gone makes me feel lonely”; because of his past, loneliness is a very important feeling for Sasuke) (also, depending on the part of Japan you go to, you may hear “samishii” pronounced more like “sabishii”)
sate = one of may words/phrases for “well then”; also one of many words/phrases used in the same manner as the phrase “heave-ho!” in English
seiza = formal seated position, on one’s knees with one’s feet folded under; used during tea-ceremony, funerals, and other solemn occasions; very uncomfortable for those unused to it
seme = the aggressor in a homosexual relationship, i.e. the ‘top’ (lit. “giver”) (sounds like the word for “attacker,” too… XD) (note that “seme” and “uke” were once commonly used as sports terminology for their literal meanings; i don’t know if that’s changed.  it’s now more politically correct to use “neko” and “tachi” instead of “uke” and “seme” for homosexual relationships.)
senbon = needles for acupuncture or combat
senpai = upperclassman/superior; this is used most often in a job setting, especially between businessmen in a corporation (you can call someone “senpai” or use it as an honorific)
sensei = teacher/any kind of trained professional
sensei ga suki = I love you, sensei!
sensei wa taihen desu yo = something along the lines of “you drive a hard bargain, sensei…” (lit. “as for sensei, he is bad news (emphatic)”)
shabu-shabu = a style of cooking in which raw meat and vegetables are cooked by quickly dipping them in very hot water or broth; you may also hear it called “hot-pot” cooking
shannaro = Sakura’s tagline – roughly “Hell yeah!”
shiitake = a slightly bitter but flavorful mushroom commonly found in Japanese cuisine
Shinigami = the God of Death
shinobi = another word for “ninja” (comes from the verb “shinobu” = “to endure”; the kanji is the same as the first one for ninja); while “ninja” is merely a label for their profession in general, “shinobi” is generally reserved for those who are skilled and honorable
Shishi Rendan = Lion Combo; a pretty nasty move of Sasuke’s, first used in the chuunin exams against that uppity guy with the face mask
shishou = another word for “teacher” or “master,” usually applied to the leader of a dojo, or from an apprentice to his master
shitsureishimashita = excuse me/sorry for interrupting (lit. “i was rude”)
shoji = sliding door, usually made from rice paper on a wooden frame
Shoki Inazuma, Kaminari no Jutsu = First Level Lightning, God-Spear Technique (god-spear refers to a single bolt of lightning; not to be confused with the homonym which means thunder) (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Shoki Inazuma, Nezumi wo Sagasu no Jutsu = First Level Lightning, Pest-Finding Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
shotakon = short for “Shoutarou Complex” after the main character of Tetsujin 28-go (the translation is also called Gigantor, and the character’s name was changed to Jimmy); refers to a situation involving young boys (below the age of consent) acting more adult, being in the company of adults, or engaging in sexual acts (with an adult or otherwise); the word can be applied to a person as well, to indicate that the person likes young boys (in an inappropriate or suspicious way); you may also see this spelled “shoutakon” or “shotacon,” and you may see the related term “lolicon/rorikon”
Shougi = Japanese chess; generally uses ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ instead of ‘black’ and ‘white,’ and uses Japanese military ranks instead of western feudal titles, although some modern players will use the English names for pieces; the pieces move similarly to those in western chess, with some very specific exceptions (such as the General being able to move one square in any direction except diagonally backwards) and the goal is the same (to trap the General and force his surrender)
shougun = general (technically, a wartime general)
(place) no Shougun = the General of (place); the leader of a ninja village other than the five most powerful villages (e.g. Amegakure, Otogakure, Kusagakure)
shoujo manga = manga (graphic novels) for girls; usually contain excessive amounts of pink and/or sparkles, feature cute girls, romance, pretty men, and magic (examples include Sailor Moon and Magic Knight Rayearth)
shunshin = body-flicker, the signature move of the Yondaime Hokage; an unexplained teleportation move that once left a strange residue when he touched down on a Rock-nin’s shoe (it’s possible that this residue was an intentionally-left chakra marker so that the Yondaime could teleport back with extreme accuracy and without looking, a theory supported by the revelation that Minato’s specialization was in space-time techniques)
shuriken = ninja throwing stars (come in many shapes/sizes, usually medium-small with four points and a hole in the middle)
soitsu wa dochira-sama desu ka = who is that person? (polite)
sonna = that… (usually seen as part of “sonna koto…”, which means “that sort of thing” and generally begins a statement like “that’s not true” or “it’s not like that”)
sore ja = that, then… (used as a mild subject change, usually to get people back on topic or continue a topic after a brief tangent)
sore wa = that…
sou = i see
sou darou/deshou = isn’t that right?/that’s probably right (the distinction between darou and deshou is one of formality, with darou being the less formal)
sou ka = is that so?/you don’t say?
sou ne = that’s true, isn’t it
sou oyasumi = yeah, good night
Sou? Sou? = Yeah? Yeah?
’ssai = a muttered abbreviation of “ussai”
sugee = a male informal form of “sugoi”
sugoi (ne) = wow (female emphatic)
Suiton: Bakusui Shouha = Water Element: Exploding Water Shockwave
Suiton: Mizuno Kekkai no Jutsu = Water Element: Water Barrier Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Suiton: Sui Shouheki = Water Element: Water Barrier (based on an official wood technique)
Suiton: Tsunami no Jutsu = Water Element: Tidal Wave Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
suki ni shirou = have it your way/whatever you want (lit. “do as you like”) (informal emphatic)
suki yo = love you (informal emphatic)
sumimasen = I’m sorry/please excuse me (polite)
suteki na = (he’s/she’s/that’s/it’s) great/wonderful/impressive
tabi = traditional Japanese socks, like mittens for your feet (the big toe is separated from the others the same way the thumb of a mitten is separated from the fingers); they’re shaped so that you can wear them under geta and zori
tabun = maybe
Tacchan = the Hyuuga cousins’ nickname for Itachi (derived from “Tachi-chan”)
tadaima = “I’m home” (lit. “just now”; this is short for “tadaima kaerimashita,” which means “I’ve just now come home”)
taichou = captain; usually used to refer to the commander of a jounin squad
taihen (da) = negative exclamatory along the lines of “Aw, man…” (lit. “big change(s),” usually translated as “bad news”)
taijutsu = ninja abilities using only the body (basic combat skills, strengthened by the use of chakra)
Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu = the forbidden form of Kage Bunshin no Jutsu; a “mass shadow clone” technique which generally summons upwards of fifty clones (as many as a few hundred at one point), banned because of the extreme risk of splitting one’s chakra so many times
Takkun = the Hyuuga cousins’ nickname for Hyuuga Tatsuha (derived from “Tatsu-kun”)
(name) wo tanomimasu = I entrust (name) to your care
tanoshii = fun
tantou = a Japanese dagger with a foot-long blade (the tool of choice for harakiri/seppuku, but also an excellent weapon of self-defense for those with no sword training)
tanuki = a large species of canine native to northeast Asia and Japan; closely resembles a brownish raccoon; considered a symbol of good luck for travelers, you may see roadside statues of this critter with unusually large testicles (it’s a prosperity/fertility thing…)
tasukatta = I’m/we’re saved!
tatami = reed-mats used for flooring in traditional Japanese homes; lots of modern Japanese homes still have tatami in their main living area (usually under the dining table)
teme(e) = extremely rude pronoun for “you,” along the order of “bitch/bastard,” but maybe a little stronger
Tendon: Kamikaze no Jutsu = Sky Element: Divine Wind Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
Tendon: Kazegiri no Jutsu = Sky Element: Wind-Cutting Technique (not an official jutsu; invented for the purposes of fanfiction)
tenpura = Tempura, a Chinese way of batter-frying things like shrimp and veggies
tenshi = angel
tofu = soybean curd, usually formed into small bricks; they’re about the same solidity as jell-o but creamy in color and with a clean, slightly sweet milky/watery sort of taste, depending on the quality; when fried, the outside takes on the texture of a dry sponge while the inside stays soft
Toire ni itta? = Did you go to the bathroom? (questions can also be formed by making a statement in a questioning tone of voice, as with English)
tomoe = the comma-shape seen often in ritual patterns; the early stages of Sharingan have a tomoe pattern, and Orochimaru’s earrings are tomoe-shaped
tonikaku = anyway/at any rate
(o)tousan/(o)touchan = forms of “Dad”
tousan no ero-baka = stupid-pervert dad/pervert-idiot dad
tsugi = next
tsumetai = cold (for objects; this is also the form you would use to say that someone has cold mannerisms or is being cold to you)
Tsunade no hime = Princess Tsunade (people call Tsunade this a lot…)
’Ttaku = abbreviation of “mattaku”
uchi no Kakashi wa ittai doko ni?! = where the hell is our Kakashi?! (uchi no (person’s name) is usually used to talk about someone who lives with you or is important in a familial fashion; for instance, Gaara’s sensei refers to him as ‘uchi no Gaara,’ because he is the Kazekage’s son)
uke = the ‘bottom’ in a homosexual relationship (lit. “receiver”) (note that “seme” and “uke” were once commonly used as sports terminology for their literal meanings; i don’t know if that’s changed.  it’s now more politically correct to use “neko” and “tachi” instead of “uke” and “seme” for homosexual relationships.)
ukiyo-e = style of traditional Japanese ink/watercolor art that usually featured nature and/or naked women
umeboshi = pickled plum often found in riceballs (muddy maroon in color)
urusai (na) = shut up! (lit. “it’s/you’re obnoxious.”)
urusee = male emphatic form of “urusai”
uso (da) = no way (lit. “[that’s a] lie”)
usotsuki = liar (Usotsuki-sensei is Sakura’s newest nickname for Kakashi)
ussai = impolite male emphatic form of “urusai”
usuratonkachi = moron (roughly….closer to “dimwit,” really, but it’s a pretty strong name)
uzumaki = spiral
(name) wa (hontou) suteki na = (name) (really is) great/wonderful/impressive
wai/uwaa = ways of squealing like a schoolgirl; if you see these, the character is basically going “eeeeek!”
wakatta = i got it (lit. “i knew/understood”)
wanko = very childish way of saying “puppy” (lit. “woof-child”)
yabai (wa ne) = (that’s/it’s) dangerous/risky/bad news (isn’t it?)
yada = no (informal emphatic)
yakisoba = fried buckwheat noodles
yakusoku (da/desu yo) = (it’s a) promise
yakuza = gangster/the japanese mob
yatta = great!/i’m glad! (lit. “i/we/you did it!”)
yokatta (ne) = that’s good (isn’t it) (lit. “it was good (wasn’t it?)”)
Yondaime = fourth (as in Fourth Hokage, the fourth of the village leaders for Hidden Leaf)
Yondaime no Hokage = Hokage the Fourth/Fourth Hokage
yoroshiku onegai shimasu = pleased to meet you (lit. “please take care of me”) (polite)
yoshi = positive exclamatory like “Great!”
yosh’/yoshyaa = forms of the exclamatory “yoshi,” which means “Great!”
yukata = a lightweight version of a kimono, usually worn under the kimono, but can be worn on its own in warm weather (especially at festivals); traditionally, yukata are either white or blue and white (partly because blue was one of the easier dyes to obtain several centuries ago)
zetee korosu = i’m definitely going to kill you (male emphatic)
zori = thin-soled Japanese slippers, similar in design to flip-flops/thong sandals; the sole is traditionally made of woven reeds; zori are worn rather than geta when the weather is nice and the wearer does not plan to leave paved areas (if you’re going to be walking in grass, or in cold or wet weather, it’s more appropriate to wear geta, to keep your feet clean)