Glossary

Japanese Glossary

Applying to any Japanese novel

敬語 - (Japanese) honorifics

Keigo

San (さん)

The usage of san is very wide: the suffix can be added to a person’s characteristics and entities such as a company.  It can be used to refer to a senior, or to a female colleague of the same age, among many other situations. It can also be used to just refer somewhat politely to someone, whether you are familiar with them or not, in this case, it can be used in the context of Mr. or Ms.

Sama (さま)

Sama is the respectful version of san, mostly used in business and clientele context. The implied superiority of the one refered to while using this is very strong. It can also be used on order to address a group of persons or an audience with respect, sama can be  attached to “mina” (everyone). As well as phrases like “ostukare-sama” (great work) or “omachidou-sama” (thank you for waiting). This is also naturally used to refer to deties in a show of respect like in “Kami-sama” (god). It can also be added to imply that it is one's direct superior for example "Dan'na-sama" (Master) or "Oujo-sama" (Young Miss), but this is not always the case.

Kun (くん)

The informal kun (君) is reserved to young men or juniors, but in business context, young women can also be called “kun” by their superiors. Kun is used by a person of a higher status towards a younger male or a child. Friends can also refer to each other by kun in a casual context and women can use it to address a man to whom they are close to as such.

Chan (ちゃん)

Chan, is a childish version of san, referring mostly to children and girls. The change from “s” sound to “ch” is considered cute in Japanese. Like for kun, friends and lovers also address each other with this honorific. As an exception it can be used to refer to an endearing adult. Chan is also frequently used to refer to cute animals and in particular, cats!

In a casual context, some people, in particular, women, will refer to themselves in a childish third person. Otherwise using (any) honorifics to refer to yourself is generally arrogant.

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(Edited from cotoacademy.com)

お笑い ゲ - Comedy (Terms)

Owarai Ge

• お笑いコンビ (Owarai konbi) - Comedy combination; comic duo

• 漫才 (manzai) - traditional japanese comedy style, consisting of a two-man act, one of the most famous owarai konbi

  • ​ボケ (boke) - From the verb 惚ける or 呆ける (bokeru), meaning something like air head-ness; the 'funny guy' in the duo

  • 突っ込み (tsukkomi) - From the verb 突っ込む (tsukkomu), meaning something like to "butt in"; the 'straight man' in the duo

エスとエム - S&M

Esu to Emu

• サドマゾ (sadomazo) - comes from the English "Sadism & Masochism", it can mean a sadomasochist person, which means they have both tendencies; or in other words BDSM

  • サド (sado)

    • サディスト (sadhisuto) - Sadist

    • サディズム (sadhizumu) - Sadism​​

  • マゾ (mazo)

    • マゾヒスト (mazohisuto) -Masochist

    • マゾヒズム (mazohizumu) - Masochism

• ドS & ドM (Do-esu & Do-emu)- in Japanese other than in S&M(BDSM) terms it's also used for describing personality, and making a complaint ​

  • ドS or 努S (do-esu) - DoS, super sadistic

    • S&M: sadist in the sadomasochistic sense, which means they enjoy seeing other people's suffering.

      • ドＳ女 ​(do-esu onna) - Super sadistic woman

      • ドＳ男 (do-esu otoko) -Super sadistic man

    • Personality: ​Likes bossing others around/Enjoys teasing others/Is romantically assertive.

      • hardcore ver. (for example in anime): ​Likes ordering others around like slaves/ Verbally abuses others, treats them like garbage/Makes unwarranted romantic advances.

    • Complaint: meaning in the sense of domineering or overbearing

      • ​calling someone an S often implies you dislike them

    • opposite of Do-M​

  • ドM or 努M (do-emu) - DoM, super masochistic

    • S&M: マゾ(mazo) "masochist", often used in the sexual sense, rather than in the personality sense.​

      • Ｍ男 (emu-otoko) - Masochistic man

        • variation: エムオ (emu-o)

      • Ｍ女 (emu-onna) -Masochistic woman

      • Personality: Likes doing things for others/Enjoys being teased/Is romantically passive.

        • hardcore ver. : ​Likes being told to do things, ordered around like a slave/Enjoys being verbally abused, called things, treated coldly/ Weak to pretty much any romantic advances.

      • opposite of Do-S

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(Edited from japanesewithanime.com)