Glossary

The straight line over some vowels (for example, ō or ā) is called a macron.

It indicates that the vowel should be given a longer sound.

-ane— older sister

-ani— older brother

-chan— child

-ko — ending meaning that the word is a girl’s name or nickname

-kun— child, boy

-sama— my lord or lord (honorific)

-san— sir, miss, or ma’am (honorific)

-senpai— senior student (honorific)

Ai, minha cabeca!(Portuguese) — Oh, my head!

Amor é um fogo que arde sem se ver, é ferida que doi, e não se sente.(Portuguese) — “Love is a fire that burns unseen, a wound that aches yet isn’t felt.” — Luis de Camões

anata —A term of endearment and affection, usually used between spouses or lovers, or by a servant or retainer to a superior with whom they have a close, friendly relationship (literally, a formal form of the pronoun “you”)

Ane-ue— Older Sister (formal, archaic)

baesinja(Korean) — traitor

baka, baka yarō —idiot, complete idiot (offensive)

baka ama —stupid woman (offensive)

bakufu —the military government headed by theshōgun

banzai/banzai no kotobuki— Ten thousand (years of life)

Benten—Goddess of Beauty and Art (also known as Benzai-ten); one of the Seven Gods of Luck

Bishamon — God of Strength and Wa