Tomodachi
This one is probably obvious from the get-go, but it’s interesting to note that apparently no one in the anime world is able to pronounce this word correctly. Tomodachi is a word that means “friend” or “acquaintance” in Japanese, but it’s pronounced “tee-MOH-dee” so even its own country’s residents screw it up! People in anime frequently use the word “tomodachi” to mean “acquaintance” or “friend,” and it’s actually a word used fairly frequently in real life, so it probably wouldn’t be that hard to get used to. However, when you’re watching anime, it’s a little off-putting hearing this as a foreign word, so if you’re a anime fan, be sure to try and train your ears to hear it.
Tsubute
Another one that’s probably pretty obvious, but again, you’d be surprised at how many people either can’t or choose not to pronounce the word correctly. In Japanese, tsubute means “substitute,” and you’re likely familiar with substituting someone’s name for yours when you sign something. In anime, tsubute is often used to refer to a person who submits to another person’s will, and even though it’s just a word, it’s a fairly interesting one to have your ears pricked at. It’s not something that you’re likely to hear or see a lot, but it’s interesting enough to listen out for.
General/Futsu
Here’s one that’s a little trickier, but also worth noting. Both words are written with the kanji characters, but they’re pronounced differently — fusu is usually pronounced as “fuss-OO,” and futsu is usually read as “fuss-SOO” or “fuss-SOO.” While both words can be used as nouns to refer to a “condition,” as well as adjectives to describe a person who’s “tense,” they’re often used in anime to refer to sexual terms. If you’re not one to look up the meanings of words, you could easily get through the show without realizing, but if you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that these two words can be used in a sexual context. It’s not something that you’re likely to hear that often, but it’s worth noting, especially if you’re a fan of the show.
Subject/Shuugyou
This one is pretty difficult to avoid, since most shows will use the word “subject” in some way. However, it’s important to note that the word is pronounced “shoo-GOO-oo,” not “shoo-GEE-oo,” with the “ee” sound being the “u” sound. When you’re watching anime, you’re likely to hear this word used as the root to a sentence, but in English, it’s not a word that’s often used. It’s worth noting that this is one of the words that you’re likely to hear the most, so if you find it off-putting, it’s worth noting. However, it’s not something that’s going to be used that frequently, so while it’s worth noting, it’s not something that you’re likely to hear often.
Ouen
The word “ouen” is pretty common in Japanese, but it’s very rarely used in English. It can mean “source” or “spring,” and is often used in conjunction with a more specific word to give it more meaning. For example, if you’re watching an anime about a spring that provides clean water, the word “ouen” can be used to give more context as to where this spring is located, such as in a city or a particular area. However, in English, the word is rarely used and is likely to create a bit of confusion. It’s worth noting, especially if you’re watching anime, but it’s not something that you’re likely to hear often.
Japanese
This one is probably the one you’re likely to hear the most. Even though it’s written with the kanji characters, it’s not written with the kanji characters, but rather, a combination of Chinese characters and English words. The Japanese reading of “Japanese” is actually “nihongo,” which is different from how the word is pronounced in English. Unfortunately, this is probably the word that you’re most likely to hear people mess up, since a lot of the time, people don’t even bother to read the kanji for it. It’s not a difficult word to pronounce, but it’s worth noting that it’s the one that’s going to get you the most frustrated. It’s worth noting that it’s an important word to know, even if you’re not going to use it often.
Ouen
This word means “spring” in Japanese, but again, it’s written with a combination of Chinese characters and English words, and the pronunciation is slightly different. The Japanese reading is “ho-NO-yo,” and the English pronunciation of “o” is “oh,” so it’s fairly easy to pronounce, especially if you’re familiar with words with the “oh” sound, like “laugh.” Unfortunately, it’s not as common to mispronounce this word as the first two, and it can be a little frustrating to hear if you’re watching anime and are trying to listen for it. It’s not a difficult word to pronounce, but it’s worth noting that it’s the one that’s the most difficult to mispronounce.
Other verbs/Hado-verb
This one is probably the most nuanced of all of the words on this list, and it’s one that you’re most likely not to notice, even if you’re watching anime. The word “other verbs” is actually a phrase that means “other verbs,” and the verb “to be” is written using the hado-verb. The hado-verb is a jumble of Chinese characters that have been altered somewhat, and the word “to be” has been written using those characters. The English pronunciation of “to be” is “BAY-doh,” and the Japanese reading is “ho-DO-yo.” Unfortunately, it’s not a hard one to mispronounce if you’re listening for it, and it’s not something that you’re likely to notice unless you’re paying attention. It’s worth noting that it’s an important detail that isn’t easy to miss.
Japanese
It would be impossible to talk about Japanese without talking about Japanese. This is the one word that’s written with the kanji characters, and it’s the one word that’s written with the kanji characters. Unfortunately, it’s the