ANIME JAPANESE NARUTO

6 Japanese vocabulary from NARUTO comic Book1.2

Comic

NARUTO, Digital colored comics, Japanese, 1

Can you say... in Japanese

Question

  • anyway
  • work hard
  • obvious

Point

1.当たり前- a ta ri ma e -

ひらがな(hi ra ga na)あたりまえ
カタカナ(ka ta ka na)アタリマエ
漢字(ka n ji)当(あ)たり前(まえ)
pronunciationa ta ri ma e
meaningnatural, ordinary, usual, common, obvious, of corse

Example

This word is used like this↓(conversation between friends)

ナルトって知 (し) ってる?
Do you know "Naruto" ?

当(あ)たり前(まえ)じゃん!
Of course!

日本人(にほんじん)がそれを知(し)っているのは当(あ)たり前(まえ)だよ
It's natural that Japanese people know it.

An emphatic way of saying

引用:NARUTO-ナルト-カラー版 1 p.18 作:岸本斉史 出:(株)集英社

If you emphasize ”当(あ)たり前(まえ)”, it become "あったり前(まえ)”.

2.頑張る- ga n ba ru-

ひらがな(hi ra ga na)がんばる
カタカナ(ka ta ka na)ガンバル
漢字(ka n ji)頑張(がんば)る
pronunciationga n ba ru
meaningcrusade, work hard, do one's best

"がんばる" (ganbaru) is a Japanese verb that means "to do one's best" or "to persevere." It conveys a sense of putting in effort, working hard, or trying your best in a challenging situation. It's often used to encourage someone or to express determination, such as saying "I'll do my best!"

This word is often used by Japanese people, so you should remember it.

Casual way of saying

引用:NARUTO-ナルト-カラー版 1 p.17 岸本斉史(株)集英社

In this scene, Naruto says ”がんばっちゃお” which means that he will try his best and It's another way of saying "がんばる”.

  • 頑張 (がんば) ります( I do my best) = polite way of saying
  • 頑張 (がんば) る( I do my best) = casual way of saying
  • 頑張 (がんば) っちゃお( I do my best) = more casual way of saying

3.足手まとい- a shi de ma to i -

ひらがな(hi ra ga na)あしでまとい
カタカナ(ka ta ka na)アシデマトイ
漢字(ka n ji)足手(あしで)まとい
pronunciationa shi de ma to i
meaningobstructive, a drag on a person, be one's trouble

Example

This word is used like this↓

あの人は足手 (あしで) まといだ。
That person is obstructive.

彼 (かれ) は、このプロジェクトに関 (かん) しては足手 (あしで) まといになる。
I think he is really dragging us down on this project.

To remember this, imagine a koala with your feet and hands attached.

引用:NARUTO-ナルト-カラー版 1 p.21 岸本斉史(株)集英社

4.一人前- i chi ni n ma e -

ひらがな(hi ra ga na)いちにんまえ
カタカナ(ka ta ka na)イチニンマエ
漢字(ka n ji)一人前(いちにんまえ)
pronunciationi chi ni n ma e
meaningthe portion for one person, stand on one's own, to come of age, independent

"一人前(いちにんまえ)" (i chi ni n ma e) literally translates to "one person worth" or "one full portion." In a broader sense, it refers to someone who is considered competent, skilled, or mature enough to stand on their own—essentially, someone who is fully independent and capable. It can also imply reaching a level of proficiency or adulthood in a particular field or aspect of life.

Origin of this words

When you stand your own like you are adult and you work, you can pay and eat adult-sized meals for one person.

引用:NARUTO-ナルト-カラー版 1 p.22 岸本斉史(株)集英社

In this scene, the child who passed the graduation exam calls himself ”一人前(いちにんまえ)”.

5.仕方がない- shi ka ta ga na i -

ひらがな(hi ra ga na)しかたがない
カタカナ(ka ta ka na)シカタガナイ
漢字(ka n ji)仕方(しかた)がない
pronunciationshi ka ta ga na i
meaningthere's no (other) way, there is nothing for it

"仕方 (しかた) がない" (shi ka ta ga na i) translates to "it can't be helped" or "there's no way around it." It expresses a sense of resignation or acceptance regarding a situation that cannot be changed. People often use it when faced with circumstances beyond their control, conveying a feeling of inevitability or the need to move on despite difficulties.

Condescending meaning

引用:NARUTO-ナルト-カラー版 1 p.24 岸本斉史(株)集英社

Japanese people use this word when they don't have to say it. For example, ”仕方 (しかた) がない I'll do it for you!" By adding it before the phrase, it has a condescending meaning.

In this scene, Mizuki says to Naruto, ”仕方 (しかた) がない(It can't be helped). I'll tell you a secret.”

Other

Japanese people also use this word like this↓

6.そんなことより- so n na ko to yo ri -

ひらがな(hi ra ga na)そんなことより
カタカナ(ka ta ka na)ソンナコトヨリ
漢字(ka n ji)そんな事(こと)より
pronunciationso n na ko to yo ri
meaningmore important than that, anyway, but
引用:NARUTO-ナルト-カラー版 1 p.31 岸本斉史(株)集英社

Example

そんなことより、変 (へん) だと思 (おも) わない?
Anyway, don't you think it's strange?

何 (なに) が変 (へん) なの?
Strange what?

Question

  • Anyway
  • too cute to handle
  • Do your best
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