Japanese Hobby

Aneki 姉貴

<div>aneki means "older sister," just like oneesan お姉さん, although sometimes it can be used to refer to an older woman who's not really the speaker's sister, but whom they respect. 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="aneki-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
The word aneki <a></a>aneki 姉貴. It's written with ane 姉, which too means "older sister," and ki 貴, which has a meaning of esteem, also found in the word <a></a><a></a> 
<ul>
<li>aneki あねき (<a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/hiragana-meaning.html">hiragana</a>)</li>
<li>aneki アネキ (<a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/katakana-meaning.html">katakana</a>)</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="aneki-usage">
Usage</h2>
Generally speaking, aneki is a casual word that refers to one's older sister with both intimacy and respect. That is, it's like the word "pal" in English, except used toward older women, older girls. In a sense, it's also similar to the word aneue 姉上. 
 
 
Most of the time it refers to one's real older sister. Biological, or maybe adopted. But sometimes it can refer to a girl whom the speaker respects and considers to be like an older sister to them. That may imply the speaker would rely on her for stuff for example because she takes care of them.. 
 
The male counterpart of aneki 姉貴 would be <a></a>aneki, aniki is sometimes used toward gang members.

In Japanese, the wordmeans "older sister," just like oneesan お姉さん, although sometimes it can be used to refer to an older woman who's not really the speaker's sister, but whom they respect.The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is姉貴. It's written with姉, which too means "older sister," and貴, which has a meaning of esteem, also found in the word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/08/anata-omae-kimi-kisama-meaning.html">kisama 貴様</a> , which used to be a word of esteem. <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-without-kanji.html">Written without kanji</a> Generally speaking,is a casual word that refers to one's older sister with both intimacy and respect. That is, it's like the word "pal" in English, except used toward older women, older girls. In a sense, it's also similar to the word姉上.Most of the time it refers to one's real older sister. Biological, or maybe adopted. But sometimes it can refer to a girl whom the speaker respects and considers to be like an older sister to them. That may imply the speaker would rely on her for stuff for example because she takes care of them..The male counterpart of姉貴 would be <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/aniki-meaning.html">aniki 兄貴</a> . Note that, unlikeis sometimes used toward gang members.</div>

Aneki 姉貴

aneki means "older sister," just like oneesan お姉さん, although sometimes it can be used to refer to an older woman who's not re...

Aniki 兄貴

<div>aniki is a way to refer to someone's <a></a><a></a> 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="aniki-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
aniki <a></a>aniki 兄貴. It's written with ani 兄, which too means "older brother," and ki 貴, which has a meaning of esteem, also found in the word <a></a><a></a> 
<ul>
<li>aniki あにき (<a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/hiragana-meaning.html">hiragana</a>)</li>
<li>aniki アニキ (<a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/katakana-meaning.html">katakana</a>)</li>
</ul>
The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is兄貴. It's written with兄, which too means "older brother," and貴, which has a meaning of esteem, also found in the word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/08/anata-omae-kimi-kisama-meaning.html">kisama 貴様</a> , which used to be a word of esteem. <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-without-kanji.html">Written without kanji</a> <h2 id="aniki-big-bro">
Big Bro</h2>
The term aniki literally means "older brother," just like the words oniisan お兄さん, ani 兄, aniue 兄上. In some cases, aniki may imply respect toward their brother. 
 
Maybe because of this, aniki is often used not toward one's biological brother but toward an older guy whom the speaker respects. Sometimes someone whom he thinks of as an "older brother." Maybe someone whom he has adopted as an older brother or sworn brother. And normally this respect is warranted. 
 
This is because it's a trope in anime that the aniki character is often a "big bro" character who teaches his "lil bro" what is a man, if not a miserable pile of secrets, not with words, but with action. He picks fights to protect his "family," burns with passion and courage, talks about heart and dreams and stuff, and so on. Often Leeroy-Jenking at problems. 
<h3 id="aniki-kamina">
Kamina</h3>
For reference, the explanation of what is an aniki, coming from the greatest aniki of all time, Kamina カミナ, from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann 天元突破グレンラガン: 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCD0LkLHYlnm8FXqJY-W4kYxIjiTYswip-XiqlVB8LBks3SVplymDhxcInyorNWStCJFmMvihDcr1iI90QAil9mO21UB0zY9KMSvwdmk_3ljafghKoOvrYM2qkkRiPhsiy6RxXw2JuIvg/s1600/aniki-tengen-toppa-gurren-lagann.png"><img alt="Kamina janee, aniki tte yobe 兄貴じゃねぇ、アニキって呼べ, quote from the anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann 天元突破グレンラガン" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCD0LkLHYlnm8FXqJY-W4kYxIjiTYswip-XiqlVB8LBks3SVplymDhxcInyorNWStCJFmMvihDcr1iI90QAil9mO21UB0zY9KMSvwdmk_3ljafghKoOvrYM2qkkRiPhsiy6RxXw2JuIvg/s1600/aniki-tengen-toppa-gurren-lagann.png" title="Anikiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!1111"></a> 
Text transcript: 
<ul>
<li>A, Kamina あ、カミナ 
Ah, Kamina</li>
<li>Kamina janee カミナじゃねぇ 
Not "Kamina," 
"aniki" tte yobe 「アニキ」って呼べ 
call [me] "aniki."</li>
<li>ore, kyoudai inai kara... 俺、兄弟いないから… 
I don't have siblings so...</li>
<li>souiu koto janee そういうことじゃねぇ 
Not like that. 
tamashii no burazaa, 魂のブラザー、 
Brothers of soul, (bold: <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/katakanization-meaning.html">katakanization</a>) 
souru no kyoudai ソウルの兄弟 
Brothers of soul, 
tte koto janee ka ってことじゃねぇか 
isn't it what it's about?</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="aniki-otoko">
Otoko 漢</h3>
otoko 男, but, in the Japanese manga and anime fandom, this word is sometimes <a></a>kanji for "molester," chikan 痴漢, I mean, the kanji for... "China," as in: "Chinese characters," kanji 漢字, in which case, this different spelling, otoko 漢, would imply we're talking about a "man among men," otoko no naka no otoko 男の中の男, which is what the aniki trope is usually about.In Japanese, the word for "man" is男, but, in the Japanese manga and anime fandom, this word is sometimes <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/same-word-different-kanji.html">written with a different kanji</a> instead, thefor, I mean, thefor... "China," as in: "Chinese characters,"字, in which case, this different spelling,漢, would imply we're talking about a "man among men,"男の中の男, which is what thetrope is usually about.The termliterally means "older brother," just like the wordsお兄さん,兄,兄上. In some cases,may implytoward their brother.Maybe because of this,is often used not toward one's biological brother but toward an older guy whom the speaker respects. Sometimes someone whom he thinks of as an "older brother." Maybe someone whom he has adopted as an older brother or sworn brother. And normally this respect is warranted.This is because it's a trope in anime that thecharacter is often a "big bro" character who teaches his "lil bro" what is a man,, not with words, but with action. He picks fights to protect his "family," burns with passion and courage, talks about heart and dreams and stuff, and so on. Often Leeroy-Jenking at problems.For reference, the explanation of what is an, coming from the greatestof all time,カミナ, from天元突破グレンラガン:Text transcript:<h2 id="aniki-gang-senpai">
Gang Senpai</h2>
Sometimes, gang members refer to their male seniors as aniki. This follows a pattern of gang relationship terms being based on family member terms. Since aniki means "older brother," it can then refer to one's male <a></a> 
 
Specifically, there's a tradition of exchanging alcohol cups in Japanese gangs (like in One Piece) where one must do that in order to become "sworn-brothers." Like any other kind of brothers, there's an older brother and a younger brother. In which case the newcomer is the younger brother and usually the group's leader at the time exchanges cups with him, consequently becoming his aniki. 
 
Of course this isn't the case in all gangs. But the general idea is that the leader of the group, who accepted him into the group, becomes the newcomer's aniki. Furthermore, the newcomer's aniki has an aniki too, since he was accepted into the gang by someone. So a single gang may have multiple aniki's. 
 
 
Usually the terms aniki-bun 兄貴分 refers to one's aniki's, oyabun 親分, from "parent," oya 親, refers to the big-boss at the top of the gang, and kobun 子分, from <a></a>oya. 
<h3 id="gang-less-aniki">
Gang-less Aniki</h3>
Not all anime are full of gangs and yakuza and stuff, and yet these terms are frequently used nonetheless. 
 
Sometimes it's used by "delinquents," yankii ヤンキー, furyou 不良, sometimes it can imply the character speaking is... gang-y. Or that he thinks his after-school club members are actually like his gang members. Or sometimes it's just a random teenager or worker who says it, as this kind of usage has long spread to outside its gang-y origins. 
 

<h3 id="shatei-meaning">
Shatei 舎弟</h3>

shatei 舎弟, meaning "younger brother," just like <a></a>aniki is to shatei what oniisan is to otouto. 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4FDtUh5ZvHr19YTy5LdlasdzYKgNp3t2d5djQjTTR7m7zzfhDftTdnhxRgi1qi9r1whIY2Y5ZL1fv8m1qBsKJ_QC-a-PsXhpH1eJHnYaLVI2tGa4DoHgKS8EfoP0Q0Vs_q8Z2tFecdg/s1600/shatei-haganai-boku-wa-tomodachi-ga-sukunai.png"><img alt="The word shatei 舎弟 used in the manga Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai 僕は友達が少ない (Haganai)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4FDtUh5ZvHr19YTy5LdlasdzYKgNp3t2d5djQjTTR7m7zzfhDftTdnhxRgi1qi9r1whIY2Y5ZL1fv8m1qBsKJ_QC-a-PsXhpH1eJHnYaLVI2tGa4DoHgKS8EfoP0Q0Vs_q8Z2tFecdg/s1600/shatei-haganai-boku-wa-tomodachi-ga-sukunai.png" title="Is this like "the contract is sealed" kind of thing?"></a>The word舎弟, meaning "younger brother," just like <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/otouto-meaning.html">otouto 弟</a> , may be used to refer to one's underlings in this gang-family lingo ecosystem. In other words,is towhatis to<h3 id="anego-meaning">
Anego 姉御</h3>
The term anego 姉御, "older sister," is a rarer term, but it's sometimes used alongside aniki. In the context of gang-esque anime character relationships, an anego would refer to the wife, woman, girlfriend, girl, etc. of an aniki. 
 
 
Note that another word that also means "older sister," aneki 姉貴, would be the female counterpart of aniki, and can be seen used in all-female gangs in anime, for example. 
 
To recap: aneki is a girl aniki, anego is aniki's girl. 

<h2 id="comparatively-older-dude">
Comparatively Older Dude</h2>


In some cases, the word aniki can imply someone is older than someone else.
<ul>
<li>kimi wa boku yori aniki 君は僕より兄貴 
You're more of an aniki than me. 
You're aniki-er than me. 
You're more of an older brother than I am.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="aniki-burly-looking-dude">
Burly-Looking Dude</h2>

The term aniki may also be used to casually refer to someone who looks manly, strong, burly-looking. This usage has nothing to do with gangs or anything. In fact in anime it's used more by older men describing younger men than vice-versa.

 

For example, the owner of a takoyaki stand can casually say "hey aniki, want some tacos takoyaki?" toward some random dude who looks like a gold member of the local gym, but is actually just a random character in JoJo..(or a middle school student in Mob Psycho 100).

 

In this usage, it seems the term may also sometimes refer to women.

In Japanese,is a way to refer to someone's <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#older-brother-in-japanese">"older brother,"</a> just like <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oniisan-meaning.html">oniisan お兄さん</a> , but it's often used in other ways, like to refer to someone whom the speaker consider to be his big bro, or to one's senior in a gang.Sometimes, gang members refer to their male seniors as. This follows a pattern of gang relationship terms being based on family member terms. Sincemeans "older brother," it can then refer to one's male <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/08/senpai-kouhai-meaning.html">senpai 先輩</a> in the gang too.Specifically, there's a tradition of exchanging alcohol cups in Japanese gangs (like in One Piece) where one must do that in order to become "sworn-brothers." Like any other kind of brothers, there's an older brother and a younger brother. In which case the newcomer is the younger brother and usually the group's leader at the time exchanges cups with him, consequently becoming hisOf course this isn't the case in all gangs. But the general idea is that the leader of the group, who accepted him into the group, becomes the newcomer's. Furthermore, the newcomer'shas antoo, since he was accepted into the gang by someone. So a single gang may have multiple's.Usually the terms兄貴分 refers to one's's,親分, from "parent,"親, refers to the big-boss at the top of the gang, and子分, from <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/ko-meaning.html">ko 子</a> , "child," refers to the followers, underlings of theNot all anime are full of gangs andand stuff, and yet these terms are frequently used nonetheless.Sometimes it's used by "delinquents,"ヤンキー,不良, sometimes it can imply the character speaking is... gang-y. Or that he thinks his after-school club members are actually like his gang members. Or sometimes it's just a random teenager or worker who says it, as this kind of usage has long spread to outside its gang-y origins.The term姉御, "older sister," is a rarer term, but it's sometimes used alongside. In the context of gang-esque anime character relationships, anwould refer to the wife, woman, girlfriend, girl, etc. of anNote that another word that also means "older sister,"姉貴, would be the female counterpart of, and can be seen used in all-female gangs in anime, for example.To recap:is a girlis's girl.</div>

Aniki 兄貴

aniki is a way to refer to someone's Kanji aniki aniki 兄貴. It's written with ani 兄, which too means "older brother,&qu...

Ossan おっさん

<div>ossan means "old man" in Japanese, sometimes translated as "middle-aged man" instead. It's considered to be a relaxed, casual word, and it can either be taken as a cozy way to say "old man" or as a rude way to say "old man." Sometimes it can be used as a derogatory. 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="ossan-age">
Age</h2>
The Oxford dictionary defines <a></a>ossan after your 30's, much earlier than you'd become a middle-aged man in English. 
 
(of course, it may be used toward someone younger, but that'd be like calling them old.) 
<h2 id="ossan-origin">
Origin</h2>
ossan is the word <a></a><a></a>ossan never means uncle, it inherited only the latter meaning, "old man." 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/31692/meaning/m0u/%E3%81%8A%E3%81%A3%E3%81%95%E3%82%93/">おっさん - dictionary.goo.ne.jp</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="ossan-usage">
Usage</h2>
The origin ofis the word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/ojisan-meaning.html">ojisan おじさん</a> , which means <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#uncle-in-japanese">"uncle,"</a> but may also refer to a man of certain age. Note thatnever means uncle, it inherited only the latter meaning, "old man."ossan is used to refer to men of a certain age, just like ojisan. However, ojisan is a word in the <a></a><a></a><a></a>ossan is a bastardization of that. 
 
Generally speaking, you can think of ojisan as a casual but respectful way of referring to a man of a certain age, while ossan is just the casual way of saying that. It's easier to be offended by getting called an ossan. It sounds like the speaker doesn't even respect you enough to say the word right. 
 
Equally, it can be considered a more familiar word when you look at it from another side: the speaker doesn't think you'd mind if he skipped a syllable, because you're pals, right? 
 
Sometimes ossan preceded by the <a></a> 
<ul>
<li>ano ossan! あのおっさん！ 
That old man!</li>
<li>kono ossan! このおっさん！ 
This old man! (literally) 
You! You old man!</li>
</ul>

 
ojisan, sometimes in anime the word ossan is used toward a young man in his 20's, or, if the speaker is a little child, toward someone even younger. In this case the ossan in question may take offense and correct the speaker, telling him to use <a></a><a></a>Like with, sometimes in anime the wordis used toward a young man in his 20's, or, if the speaker is a little child, toward someone even younger. In this case thein question may take offense and correct the speaker, telling him to use <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oniisan-meaning.html">onisan お兄さん</a> instead, which means " <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#older-brother-in-japanese">older brother,"</a> but may be used to refer to young men.<h2 id="ossan-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
Regarding how to write ossan <a></a>ojisan distorted, it kind of lost its , becoming <a></a>ossan using the . Normally with , as ossan おっさん or, rarely, with , as ossan オッサン.

The wordmeans "old man" in Japanese, sometimes translated as "middle-aged man" instead. It's considered to be a relaxed, casual word, and it can either be taken as a cozy way to say "old man" or as a rude way to say "old man." Sometimes it can be used as a derogatory.The Oxford dictionary defines <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/middle_age">"middle age"</a> as "the period after early adulthood and before old age, about 45 to 65 [years old]." However, most Japanese dictionaries say you become anafter your 30's, much earlier than you'd become a middle-aged man in English.(of course, it may be used toward someone younger, but that'd be like calling them old.)The wordis used to refer to men of a certain age, just like. However,is a word in the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/o-san-pattern.html">o__san お〇〇さん pattern</a> , it has an <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/honorific-prefix-o-go.html">honorific prefix</a> and an <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/kun-san-chan-sama-meaning.html">honorific suffix</a> , it's a very honorable word, whileis a bastardization of that.Generally speaking, you can think ofas a casual but respectful way of referring to a man of a certain age, whileis just the casual way of saying that. It's easier to be offended by getting called an. It sounds like the speaker doesn't even respect you enough to say the word right.Equally, it can be considered a more familiar word when you look at it from another side: the speaker doesn't think you'd mind if he skipped a syllable, because you're pals, right?Sometimespreceded by the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/10/kono-sono-ano-dono-meaning.html">demonstrative pronouns kono, sono, ano</a> like this:Regarding how to write <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">with kanji</a> : you don't. Since it's the worddistorted, it kind of lost its, becoming <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-without-kanji.html">a word that doesn't have kanji</a> . So you can only writeusing the. Normally with, asおっさん or, rarely, with, asオッサン.</div>

Ossan おっさん

ossan means "old man" in Japanese, sometimes translated as "middle-aged man" instead. It's considered to be a relax...

Oyaji オヤジ, 親父, 親仁, 親爺

<div>oyaji means <a></a> , but sometimes <a></a> works, or the <a></a> 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="oyaji-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
The word oyaji <a></a>oyaji 親父, and, though it already means "father," it's spelled with the <a></a><a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#parent-in-japanese">"parent,"</a> oya 親, and "father," chichi 父, and, to make matters worse, if you spell it backwards, it's a <a></a>chichioya 父親, which also means "father." 
 
Note that oyaji 親父 is a <a></a>kanji isn't normally read ji 父, but in this word it is. 
<h3 id="kanji-親仁-親爺">
親仁, 親爺</h3>
<a></a>kanji for father, as oyaji 親仁 or oyaji 親爺. This hints the word doesn't mean "father" in that instance, but refers to a random man or the owner of a shop instead.In certain cases, <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/same-word-different-kanji.html">the word may be written with different kanji</a> instead of thefor father, as親仁 or親爺. This hints the word doesn't mean "father" in that instance, but refers to a random man or the owner of a shop instead.<h3 id="written-as-オヤジ-おやじ">
オヤジ, おやじ</h3>
Sometimes the word is <a></a> or instead. 
<ul>
<li>oyaji オヤジ</li>
<li>oyaji おやじ</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="oyaji-usage">
Usage</h2>

The word oyaji is mostly used by men. It's said to be a more informal word, colloquial, used in more casual contexts.

 

There are people who believe the word is rude and that you shouldn't use it if you respect your father, but they're few. In general, it's thought to be just a more relaxed, cozier word, not rude at all.

 

In anime, characters who use the word oyaji are often boys in a rebellious phase who keep rebelling against their fathers. That may lead you to think it's some sort of teen slang, slur or bad word, projected out of their mouths using angst as fuel for propulsion. This isn't true. The term oyaji is just a normal word.
<h3 id="ofukuro-meaning">
Ofukuro</h3>

The word ofukuro お袋, meaning "mother," is similar to oyaji in that it's mostly used by men and that it's a colloquialism. Because they're similar like that, sometimes a character who uses one word uses the other one too.
<h2 id="older-men-oyaji">
Toward Older Men</h2>

Sometimes oyaji refers not to your own father but to some random man of certain age instead. This is also colloquial usage. Generally it refers to someone over their 30's or 40's, but sometimes the speaker is a child character who refers to a poor guy who's just in his 20's as oyaji.

 

 
oyaji can be preceded by the <a></a>In this case, the wordcan be preceded by the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/10/kono-sono-ano-dono-meaning.html">demonstratives pronouns kono, sono, ano</a> , or by adjectives. For example:<ul>
<li>ano oyaji あのオヤジ 
That old man.</li>
<li>kitakita odori no oyaji キタキタ踊りのおやじ 
Old man of the north-north dance.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="shop-owner-oyaji">
Toward Shop Owners</h3>

Sometimes the word oyaji can refer to the owner of a shop. This follows the exact same idea as oyaji referring to old men. So it works only so long as the owner of the shop is male. It's used, for example, toward the oyaji who runs a takoyaki stand, or a ramen stand, bar, etc.
<h3 id="boss-oyaji">
Toward Bosses of Organizations</h3>

Also following the same principle, the word oyaji can be a casual way to refer to the boss of one's organization or group. In particular, you may see it used in anime by members of gangs, Yakuza, etc. to refer to their bosses.
<h2 id="oyajisan-meaning">
Oyajisan</h2>
<a></a><a></a>oyajisan, with a <a></a>oyajisan may refer to your own father.Like other words that refer to <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html">family members</a> , it follows a certain <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#chichi-vs-otousan-haha-vs-okaasan">norms on honorific usage</a> . Specifically,, with a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/kun-san-chan-sama-meaning.html">san honorific</a> , implicitly refers to other people's fathers, not yours. Except when you're talking to someone inside your family, thenmay refer to your own father.
 

The wordmeans <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#father-in-japanese">"father" in Japanese</a> , making it synonymous with, but sometimes <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oyaji-meaning.html#older-men-oyaji">it can refer to a man of certain age,</a> similar to how the wordworks, or the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oyaji-meaning.html#shop-owner-oyaji">owner of a shop</a> insteadThe word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is親父, and, though it already means "father," it's spelled with the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kanji-for-word.html">kanji for</a> 親,"father,"父, and, to make matters worse, if you spell it backwards, it's a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kanji-semordnilap.html">kanji semordnilap</a> , you see, you get the word父親, whichmeans "father."Note that親父 is a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/jukujikun-reading-meaning.html">jukujikun 熟字訓</a> , that is, the fatherisn't normally read父, but in this word it is.Sometimes the word is <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-without-kanji.html">written without kanji</a> , withorinstead.</div>

Oyaji オヤジ, 親父, 親仁, 親爺

oyaji means , but sometimes works, or the Kanji The word oyaji oyaji 親父, and, though it already means "father," it'...

Okaasan お母さん

<div>The様 suffix and the o 御 prefix are only sometimes written with. So, for example,can also be written お母様 or 御母様.
The word okaachan means the same thing as okaasan, "mother."
 

The difference between okaasan and okaachan お母ちゃん is that okaachan is a cozier word. It can imply a more friendly, relaxed, or intimate relationship between the speaker and the okaachan.
<h2 id="okaasama-meaning">
Otousama</h2>

The word okaasama means the same thing as okaasan, "mother."

 
The difference between okaasan and okaasama お母さま is that okaasama has more reverence. In anime, this often implies that the character is from a traditional family (often rich $$$) which believes children must address their parents, grandparents, etc. with respect. 
 
In some cases, it can imply the speaker has admiration or esteem toward their mother. 
<h2 id="kaasan-kaachan-kaasama">
Kaasan, Kaachan, Kaasama</h2>

</div>

Okaasan お母さん

The様 suffix and the o 御 prefix are only sometimes written with. So, for example,can also be written お母様 or 御母様. The word okaachan means th...

Otousan お父さん

<div>otousan means <a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a> 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="otousan-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
The word otousan <a></a>otousan お父さん. It has <a></a>chichi 父, but uses a <a></a><a></a> 
<ul>
<li>otouchan お父ちゃん</li>
<li>otousama お父さま</li>
</ul>
 
The sama 様 suffix and the <a></a>kanji. So, for example, otousama can also be written お父様 or 御父様. 
<h2 id="otouchan-meaning">
Otouchan</h2>

The word otouchan means the same thing as otousan, "father."

 

The difference between otousan and otouchan お父ちゃん is that otouchan is a cozier word. It can imply a more friendly, relaxed, or intimate relationship between the speaker and the otouchan.
<h2 id="otousama-meaning">
Otousama</h2>

The word otousama means the same thing as otousan, "father."

 
The difference between otousan and otousama お父さま is that otousama has more reverence. In anime, this often implies that the character is from a traditional family (often rich $$$) which believes children must address their parents, grandparents, etc. with respect. 
 
In some cases, it can imply the speaker has admiration or esteem toward their father.
<h2 id="tousan-touchan-tousama">
Tousan, Touchan, Tousama</h2>
Sometimes the word is pronounced without the o prefix. This is just a more informal way of saying it. 
<ul>
<li>tousan 父さん</li>
<li>touchan 父ちゃん</li>
<li>tousama 父さま</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="otousan-vs-chichi">
Otousan vs. Chichi</h2>
The difference between otousan and chichi is that otousan has honorifics. Normally you don't use honorifics toward yourself, so you say chichi when you refer to your own father, and otousan when you refer to someone else's father. One exception is when you're talking about your father to someone inside your own family, then you use otousan. (see <a></a> 
 
Some example phrases: 
<ul>
<li>watashi no chichi¹ to anata no otousan² 私の父とあなたのお父さん 
My father¹ and your father².</li>
<li>anata no otousan wa genki desuka? あなたのお父さんは元気ですか？ 
Is your father well?</li>
<li><a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/okaasan-meaning.html">okaasan</a>, otousan wa? お母さん、お父さんは？ 
Mom, [what about] dad? 
Mom, [where is] dad? 
(here the speaker is speaking to their "mom," asking about their "dad.")</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="husband-usage">
Usage Toward Husband</h2>
In some cases, otousan may refer not to one's father but to one's husband. This mainly happens when a mother is speaking to their child about the child's father, who's their husband. So a phrase like "otousan will do this" may mean "the father in this family, who's my husband, will do this." 
 
There are couples who call each other like that even when not in the presence of their children. On the other hand, there are also people who think doing that is weird. 
<h2 id="otousan-vs-otosan">
Otousan vs. Otōsan</h2>
otousan and otōsan, with a macron, is merely that they're <a></a>otōchan and otōsama. 
 
This happens because long vowels, found in syllables like too とお, tou とう, and too とー, may be romanized with a macron instead of two vowel letters.The difference betweenand, with a macron, is merely that they're <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/different-romaji-same-word.html">different romaji for the same Japanese word</a> . The same applies forandThis happens because long vowels, found in syllables likeとお,とう, andとー, may be romanized with a macron instead of two vowel letters.<h2 id="written-as-おとーさん">
おとーさん</h2>
Sometimes when otousan is <a></a>otōsan おとーさん instead, with a <a></a>otōchan おとーちゃん, otōsama おとーさま.

The wordmeans <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#father-in-japanese">"father" in Japanese</a> (and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/otousan-meaning.html#husband-usage">sometimes refers to one's husband</a> ). It's one of the many <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html">family words</a> with the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/o-san-pattern.html">o__san お〇〇さん pattern</a> , and as such the honorific suffix can be changed between <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/kun-san-chan-sama-meaning.html">san, chan and sama</a> The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> isお父さん. It has <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/same-kanji-different-word.html">the same kanji as another word</a> for "father,"父, but uses a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/same-kanji-different-reading.html">different reading</a> (and has <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/otousan-meaning.html#otousan-vs-chichi">different usage</a> ). The other words with different suffixes are written similarly:The様 suffix and the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/honorific-prefix-o-go.html">o 御 prefix</a> are only sometimes written with. So, for example,can also be written お父様 or 御父様.Sometimes the word is pronounced without theprefix. This is just a more informal way of saying it.The difference betweenandis thathas honorifics. Normally you don't use honorifics toward yourself, so you saywhen you refer to your own father, andwhen you refer to someone else's father. One exception is when you're talking about your father to someone inside your own family, then you use. (see <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#chichi-vs-otousan-haha-vs-okaasan">お父さん vs. 父</a> Some example phrases:In some cases,may refer not to one's father but to one's husband. This mainly happens when a mother is speaking to their child about the child's father, who's their husband. So a phrase like "will do this" may mean "the father in this family, who's my husband, will do this."There are couples who call each other like that even when not in the presence of their children. On the other hand, there are also people who think doing that is weird.Sometimes whenis <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-without-kanji.html">written without kanji</a> it becomesおとーさん instead, with a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/04/prolonged-sound-mark.html">prolonged sound mark ー</a> . This often happens with child characters to denote they way they speak. Likewise:おとーちゃん,おとーさま.</div>

Otousan お父さん

otousan means Kanji The word otousan otousan お父さん. It has chichi 父, but uses a otouchan お父ちゃん otousama お父さま The sama 様 suf...

Obaasan お祖母さん, お婆さん

Have you ever wondered what are the letters of the Japanese alphabet? Sure you've heard the stories, the legends? About how there are mo...

Obasan おばさん, 伯母さん, 叔母さん, 小母さん

<div>obasan means <a></a>obaasan or obāsan with a macron, which mean "grandmother" instead. 
 
It's one of the many <a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a> 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="obasan-kanji">
 Kanji</h2>
The word obasan <a></a>obasan 伯母さん, or obasan 叔母さん, or obasan 小母さん. It's <a></a>kanji it's written with. 
<h3 id="kanji-伯母さん">
伯母さん</h3>
When written as obasan 伯母さん, it refers to the "aunt" who's your parent's older sister, or, in other words, the of your or . 
<h3 id="kanji-叔母さん">
叔母さん</h3>
When written as obasan 叔父さん, it refers to the "aunt" who's your parent's younger sister, or, in other words, the of your otousan or okaasan. 
<h3 id="kanji-小母さん">
小母さん</h3>
When written as obasan 小母さん, it refers to an "aunt" who's not even related to your parents, or, in other words, an adult woman of certain age. 
<h3 id="written-as-おばさん">
おばさん</h3>
It's interesting to note that not everybody knows for sure the difference between these three spellings, just like some people aren't very sure about "it's" vs. "its". So, in order to avoid making an unnecessary mistake, people tend to play safe and <a></a>obasan おばさん, instead. 
<h2 id="obachan-meaning">
Obachan</h2>
The word obachan means the same thing as obasan, "uncle." 
 
The difference between obasan and obachan おばちゃん is that obachan is a cozier word. It can imply a more friendly, relaxed, or intimate relationship between the speaker and the obachan. 
<h2 id="obasama-meaning">
Obasama</h2>
The word ojisama means the same thing as ojisan, "uncle." 
 
The difference between obasan and obasama おばさま is that obasama has more reverence. In anime, this often implies that the character is from a traditional family (often rich $$$) which believes children must address their parents, uncles, grandparents, etc. with respect. 
 
In some cases, it can imply the speaker has admiration or esteem toward their aunt. 
<h2 id="obasan-vs-oba">
Obasan vs. Oba</h2>
The difference between oba and obasan, obachan, obasama is that oba 伯母 (叔母) does not have an honorific. In Japanese, you normally don't use honorifics toward yourself. By extension, oba would be your aunt, while obasan, etc. other people's aunts. An exception is when you're talking about your aunt to someone in your family, then using obasan is alright. 
 
Also note that in anime, with children, teenagers, talking to their friends in school, the conversation is more relaxed so the norms above don't really apply. 
<h2 id="older-women-obasan">
Toward Older Women</h2>
Sometimes the word obasan 小母さん refers not the character's "aunt" but to a woman who's older than them instead. When this happens, the woman is usually at least in her mid-thirties, but note that there's no hard rule for this. 
 
In particular, teenager girls and young women in anime can get called obasan by children and get real mad because of it. Often correcting the child saying they're an oneesan, "older sister," instead, because oneesan is used similarly but toward young women and girls. On the other side, obaasan, "grandmother," is used toward elder women. 
 
In anime, the term obasan is probably used more in this way than to refer to actual aunts, since characters rarely have parents, much less parents' siblings. 
 
When the word is used like this, it sometimes comes after <a></a> 
<ul>
<li>ano obasan あのおばさん 
That (older) woman.</li>
</ul>

The wordmeans <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#aunt-in-japanese">"aunt" or in Japanese</a> (but sometimes refers to an older woman). Not to be confused withorwith a macron, which mean "grandmother" instead.It's one of the many <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html">family words</a> with the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/o-san-pattern.html">o__san お〇〇さん pattern</a> , and as such the honorific suffix can be changed between <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/kun-san-chan-sama-meaning.html">san, chan and sama</a> . (see <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#nuances-honorifics">obachan vs. obasan vs. obasama</a> The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is伯母さん, or叔母さん, or小母さん. It's <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/same-word-different-kanji.html">a word that can be written with multiple, different kanji</a> , and the meaning of the word differs according to theit's written with.When written as伯母さん, it refers to the "aunt" who's your, or, in other words, theof yourorWhen written as叔父さん, it refers to the "aunt" who's your, or, in other words, theof yourorWhen written as小母さん, it refers to an "aunt" who's not even related to your parents, or, in other words, an adult woman of certain age.It's interesting to note that not everybody knows for sure the difference between these three spellings, just like some people aren't very sure about "it's" vs. "its". So, in order to avoid making an unnecessary mistake, people tend to play safe and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-without-kanji.html">write the word without kanji</a> , asおばさん, instead.The wordmeans the same thing as, "uncle."The difference betweenandおばちゃん is thatis a cozier word. It can imply a more friendly, relaxed, or intimate relationship between the speaker and theThe wordmeans the same thing as, "uncle."The difference betweenandおばさま is thathas more reverence. In anime, this often implies that the character is from a traditional family (often rich $$$) which believes children must address their parents, uncles, grandparents, etc. with respect.In some cases, it can imply the speaker has admiration or esteem toward their aunt.The difference betweenandis that伯母 (叔母) does not have an honorific. In Japanese, you normally don't use honorifics toward yourself. By extension,would be your aunt, while, etc. other people's aunts. An exception is when you're talking about your aunt to someone in your family, then usingis alright.Also note that in anime, with children, teenagers, talking to their friends in school, the conversation is more relaxed so the norms above don't really apply.Sometimes the word小母さん refers not the character's "aunt" but to a woman who's older than them instead. When this happens, the woman is usually at least in her mid-thirties, but note that there's no hard rule for this.In particular, teenager girls and young women in anime can get calledby children and get real mad because of it. Often correcting the child saying they're an, "older sister," instead, becauseis used similarly but toward young women and girls. On the other side,, "grandmother," is used toward elder women.In anime, the termis probably used more in this way than to refer to actual aunts, since characters rarely have parents, much less parents' siblings.When the word is used like this, it sometimes comes after <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/10/kono-sono-ano-dono-meaning.html">the demonstrative pronouns kono, sono, ano</a> </div>

Obasan おばさん, 伯母さん, 叔母さん, 小母さん

obasan means obaasan or obāsan with a macron, which mean "grandmother" instead. It's one of the many Kanji The word...

Ojiisan お祖父さん, お爺さん

Have you ever wondered what are the letters of the Japanese alphabet? Sure you've heard the stories, the legends? About how there are mo...

Ojisan おじさん, 伯父さん, 叔父さん, 小父さん

<div>ojisan means <a></a>ojiisan or ojīsan with a macron, which mean "grandfather" instead. 
 
It's one of the many <a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a> 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="ojisan-kanji">
 Kanji</h2>
The word ojisan <a></a>ojisan 伯父さん, or ojisan 叔父さん, or ojisan 小父さん. It's <a></a>kanji it's written with. 
<h3 id="kanji-伯父さん">
伯父さん</h3>
When written as ojisan 伯父さん, it refers to the "uncle" who's your parent's older brother, or, in other words, the of your or . 
<h3 id="kanji-叔父さん">
叔父さん</h3>
When written as ojisan 叔父さん, it refers to the "uncle" who's your parent's younger brother, or, in other words, the of your otousan or okaasan. 
<h3 id="kanji-小父さん">
小父さん</h3>
When written as ojisan 小父さん, it refers to an "uncle" who's not even related to your father, or, in other words, an adult man of certain age. 
<h3 id="written-as-おじさん">
おじさん</h3>
It's interesting to note that not everybody knows for sure the difference between these three spellings, just like some people aren't very sure about "it's" vs. "its". So, in order to avoid making an unnecessary mistake, people tend to play safe and <a></a>ojisan おじさん, instead. 
<h2 id="ojichan-meaning">
Ojichan</h2>
The word ojichan means the same thing as ojisan, "uncle." 
 
The difference between ojisan and ojichan おじちゃん is that ojichan is a cozier word. It can imply a more friendly, relaxed, or intimate relationship between the speaker and the ojichan. 
<h2 id="ojisama-meaning">
Ojisama</h2>
The word ojisama means the same thing as ojisan, "uncle." 
 
The difference between ojisan and ojisama おじさま is that ojisama has more reverence. In anime, this often implies that the character is from a traditional family (often rich $$$) which believes children must address their parents, uncles, grandparents, etc. with respect. 
 
In some cases, it can imply the speaker has admiration or esteem toward their uncle. 
<h2 id="ojisan-vs-oji">
Ojisan vs. Oji</h2>
The difference between oji and ojisan, ojichan, ojisama is that oji 伯父 (叔父) does not have an honorific. In Japanese, you normally don't use honorifics toward yourself. By extension, oji would be your uncle, while ojisan, etc. other people's uncles. An exception is when you're talking about your uncle to someone in your family, then using ojisan is alright. 
 
Also note that in anime, with children, teenagers, talking to their friends in school, the conversation is more relaxed so the norms above don't really apply. 
<h2 id="ossan-meaning">
Ossan</h2>
The word ossan means the same thing as ojisan. It's just another way of saying the word: ossan おっさん. Similarly, occhan おっちゃん is just another way of saying ojichan. 
<h2 id="older-men-ojisan">
Toward Older Men</h2>
Sometimes the word ojisan 小父さん refers not to a character's "uncle" but to a man who's older than them instead. When this happens, the man is usually at least in his mid-thirties, but note that there's no hard rule for this. 
 
In particular, child characters can sometimes call young men in their 20's ojisan, giving them a bitter and unwarranted taste of the cruelty inherent of the passage of time. The term oniisan, "older brother," is normally used similarly instead toward young men and teenagers, while ojiisan, "grandfather," toward elder men. 
 
In anime, the term ojisan is probably used more in this way than to refer to actual uncles, since characters rarely have parents, much less parents' siblings. 
 
One particular anime has the word ojisan in its title: 
<ul>
<li>ojisan to mashumaro おじさんとマシュマロ 
Ojisan & Marshmallow.</li>
</ul>
 
When the word is used like this, it sometimes comes after <a></a> 
<ul>
<li>ano ojisan あのおじさん 
ano ossan あのおっさん 
That old man.</li>
<li>kono ojisan このおじさん 
kono ossan このおっさん 
This old man. 
You! (you old man!)</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="ojisan-fish">
Ojisan Fish</h2>
Lastly, the word ojisan オジサン can also refer to a certain fish, the Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus Multifasciatus).

The wordmeans <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#uncle-in-japanese">"uncle" in Japanese</a> (but sometimes refers to an older man). Not to be confused withorwith a macron, which mean "grandfather" instead.It's one of the many <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html">family words</a> with the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/o-san-pattern.html">o__san お〇〇さん pattern</a> , and as such the honorific suffix can be changed between <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/kun-san-chan-sama-meaning.html">san, chan and sama</a> . (see <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#nuances-honorifics">ojichan vs. ojisan vs. ojisama</a> The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is伯父さん, or叔父さん, or小父さん. It's <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/same-word-different-kanji.html">a word that can be written with multiple, different kanji</a> , and the meaning of the word differs according to theit's written with.When written as伯父さん, it refers to the "uncle" who's your, or, in other words, theof yourorWhen written as叔父さん, it refers to the "uncle" who's your, or, in other words, theof yourorWhen written as小父さん, it refers to an "uncle" who's not even related to your father, or, in other words, an adult man of certain age.It's interesting to note that not everybody knows for sure the difference between these three spellings, just like some people aren't very sure about "it's" vs. "its". So, in order to avoid making an unnecessary mistake, people tend to play safe and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-without-kanji.html">write the word without kanji</a> , asおじさん, instead.The wordmeans the same thing as, "uncle."The difference betweenandおじちゃん is thatis a cozier word. It can imply a more friendly, relaxed, or intimate relationship between the speaker and theThe wordmeans the same thing as, "uncle."The difference betweenandおじさま is thathas more reverence. In anime, this often implies that the character is from a traditional family (often rich $$$) which believes children must address their parents, uncles, grandparents, etc. with respect.In some cases, it can imply the speaker has admiration or esteem toward their uncle.The difference betweenandis that伯父 (叔父) does not have an honorific. In Japanese, you normally don't use honorifics toward yourself. By extension,would be your uncle, while, etc. other people's uncles. An exception is when you're talking about your uncle to someone in your family, then usingis alright.Also note that in anime, with children, teenagers, talking to their friends in school, the conversation is more relaxed so the norms above don't really apply.The wordmeans the same thing as. It's just another way of saying the word:おっさん. Similarly,おっちゃん is just another way of sayingSometimes the word小父さん refers not to a character's "uncle" but to a man who's older than them instead. When this happens, the man is usually at least in his mid-thirties, but note that there's no hard rule for this.In particular, child characters can sometimes call young men in their 20's, giving them a bitter and unwarranted taste of the cruelty inherent of the passage of time. The term, "older brother," is normally used similarly instead toward young men and teenagers, while, "grandfather," toward elder men.In anime, the termis probably used more in this way than to refer to actual uncles, since characters rarely have parents, much less parents' siblings.One particular anime has the wordin its title:When the word is used like this, it sometimes comes after <a href="http://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/10/kono-sono-ano-dono-meaning.html">the demonstrative pronouns kono, sono, ano</a> Lastly, the wordオジサン can also refer to a certain fish, the Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus Multifasciatus).</div>

Ojisan おじさん, 伯父さん, 叔父さん, 小父さん

ojisan means ojiisan or ojīsan with a macron, which mean "grandfather" instead. It's one of the many Kanji The word...

Imouto 妹

<div>imouto means <a></a>imouto. 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="imouto-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
imouto <a></a>imouto 妹. It's just a single kanji with a rather long <a></a>The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is妹. It's just a singlewith a rather long <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kanji-readings.html">reading</a> <h2 id="imouto-vs-oneesan">
Imouto vs. Oneesan</h2>
The difference between imouto and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oneesan-meaning.html">oneesan</a> is that imouto always refers to one's younger sister, while oneesan, oneechan, oneesama usually refers to one's "older sister." 
 
So, in a sense, the opposite of oneesan is imouto, age-wise. These words only apply to female siblings, the opposite gender-wise, the words for "older brother" and "younger brother," would be <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oniisan-meaning.html">oniisan</a> and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/otouto-meaning.html">otouto</a>. 
 
Note that you can have multiple imouto's, multiple "younger sisters." Because the word imouto doesn't mean "youngest," just "younger." 
 
The "youngest sister" of all your siblings is your matsumai 末妹, written with the kanji for "final," matsu 末, probably because she was the last one to be born. You can also simply describe her as ichiban shita no imouto 一番下の妹, literally "the imouto most below (in the age ranking.)" 
<h2 id="imoutosan-usage">
Imoutosan</h2>
The difference betweenandis thatalways refers to one's younger sister, whileusually refers to one's "older sister."So, in a sense, the opposite ofis, age-wise. These words only apply to female siblings, the opposite gender-wise, the words for "older brother" and "younger brother," would beandNote that you can have multiple's, multiple "younger sisters." Because the worddoesn't mean "youngest," just "younger."The "youngest sister" of all your siblings is your末妹, written with thefor "final,"末, probably because she was the last one to be born. You can also simply describe her as一番下の妹, literally "themost below (in the age ranking.)"
 

This happens because this san stuff are called honorifics, and honorifics are used when you want to make a reverence.

 

Since your older sister is your elder, and you should treat your elders with respect, the term oneesan gets the reverencing honorifics. But your younger sister is not your elder, she's your junior, so you don't really make a reverence toward her.

 

One exception is when you're talking about other people's younger sisters. Since it's other people, you might want to speak with respect, so you say imoutosan 妹さん, with a san. 
 
Since you normally don't use honorifics when talking about your own family to other people, imoutosan normally refers to someone else's younger sister, not yours.

 

Beyond imoutosan, there's also the word goreimaisama ご令妹様, which is an even more polite way to refer to other people's younger sisters, and would be used more in writing.

<h2 id="imouto-vs-imoto">
Imouto vs. Imōto</h2>

imouto and imōto, with a macron, is merely that it's a <a></a> 
 
This happens because long vowels, found in syllables like oo おお, ou おう, and oo おー, may be romanized with a macron instead of two vowel letters.The difference betweenand, with a macron, is merely that it's a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/different-romaji-same-word.html">different romaji for the same word</a> This happens because long vowels, found in syllables likeおお,おう, andおー, may be romanized with a macron instead of two vowel letters.
The wordmeans <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#younger-sister-in-japanese">"younger sister" in Japanese</a> . Sometimes it's translated as "little sister" instead, but it's "younger sister." Even if your younger sister is bigger than you she's still your</div>

Imouto 妹

imouto means imouto . Kanji imouto imouto 妹. It's just a single kanji with a rather long The word written with kanji is妹. It&...

Musume 娘

<div>musume 娘 means <a></a> 
 
<h2 id="musume-kanji">
 Kanji</h2>
musume <a></a>musume 娘. 
 
This kanji is generally read as musume, but it can be read as jou sometimes. Also, in certain words it's read as ko 娘 instead because the word is actually <a></a>kanji implies it's a girl. 
 
Like the word <a></a>musume comes from the verb musu 生す, meaning to spawn, to give birth to something, to make something grow out of nothing, etc. Except that musume ends in me. This me of musume is the same <a></a>megami 女神, "goddess."The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is娘.Thisis generally read as, but it can be read assometimes. Also, in certain words it's read as娘 instead because the word is actually <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/ko-meaning.html">ko 子</a> , "child," but theimplies it's a girl.Like the word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/musuko-meaning.html">musuko</a> comes from the verb生す, meaning to spawn, to give birth to something, to make something grow out of nothing, etc. Except thatends in. Thisofis the same <a href="http://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/morphemes.html">morpheme</a> as the one found in the word神, "goddess."<h2 id="musumesan-meaning">
 Musumesan</h2>
<a></a><a></a>musume does not. Why is that? Why musume doesn't have a <a></a> 
 
Well, this happens because honorifics are used to make reverence, and though you'd normally make a reverence toward your elders, it'd be silly to do the same toward your juniors. That's why musume doesn't have a san, but the words for "father" and "mother," <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/otousan-meaning.html">otousan</a> and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/okaasan-meaning.html">okaasan</a>, do. 
 
Note, however, that the word musumesan 娘さん does exist. Because when you're speaking about other people, in this case, other people's daughters, then using the honorific is a sign of respect. Based on this, musume is often your own daughter, while musumesan is pretty much always someone else's daughter.You may have that, while a bunch of <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html">words for family members in Japanese</a> follow an <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/o-san-pattern.html">o__san お〇〇さん pattern</a> , the worddoes not. Why is that? Whydoesn't have a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/kun-san-chan-sama-meaning.html">san honorific</a> in it?Well, this happens because honorifics are used to make reverence, and though you'd normally make a reverence toward your elders, it'd be silly to do the same toward your juniors. That's whydoesn't have a, but the words for "father" and "mother,"and, do.Note, however, that the word娘さん does exist. Because when you're speaking about other people, in this case, other people's daughters, then using the honorific is a sign of respect. Based on this,is often your own daughter, whileis pretty much always someone else's daughter.<h2 id="magomusume-meaning">
 Magomusume</h2>

Sometimes the word musume 娘 comes after the word mago 孫, which means "grandchild," turning into magomusume 孫娘. This magomusume means "granddaughter" instead of the neutral "grandchild."
<h2 id="musume-girls">
Musume Girls</h2>
 
 
What happens is that a musume can refer to a girl. Like... any girl. You might as well translate musume as "girl" instead of "daughter" in this case. This is generally not used toward older women, only younger women, teenagers, etc. whom you'd associate with the idea of "daughter." Some dictionaries claim the musume must be unmarried, so maybe "missy" would be a better translation? 
 
In anime, it's often the case where, if such a girl does something, and there's a villain that doesn't like it, the villain will exclaim something along the lines of: 
<ul>
<li>ano musume! あの娘！ 
That girl! [Darn her!]</li>
<li>ano komusume! あの小娘！ 
That little girl! [Darn her!]</li>
</ul>

 

There's also a practice of labeling girls by a certain attribute that uses the tern musume this way.

<h2 id="something-plus-musume">
Something + Musume</h2>

musume 娘 is the formula to describe a type of girl. Sometimes, kko っ娘 is used instead. There are words used in Real Life that follow this pattern, but it's specially used in anime and manga discussion, where there are countless features for countless girls of countless trashy harem anime. 
 
For example, a meganekko メガネっ娘 or meganemusume メガネ娘 is a girl that wears "glasses," megane メガネ. A nekomusume 猫娘 is a "catgirl." A monstaa musume モンスター娘 is a "monster girl." And so on. 
 
(see <a></a>In Japanese, saying something plus娘 is the formula to describe a type of girl. Sometimes,っ娘 is used instead. There are words used in Real Life that follow this pattern, but it's specially used in anime and manga discussion, where there are countless features for countless girls of countless trashy harem anime.For example, aメガネっ娘 orメガネ娘 is a girl that wears "glasses,"メガネ. A猫娘 is a "catgirl." Aモンスター娘 is a "monster girl." And so on.(see <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/kko-anime-girls.html">types of kko girls</a> for a partial list)In English we don't call every woman "daughter" just because every woman is somebody's daughter. In Japanese, however....that's kind of possible.What happens is that acan refer to a girl. Like... any girl. You might as well translateas "girl" instead of "daughter" in this case. This is generally not used toward older women, only younger women, teenagers, etc. whom you'd associate with the idea of "daughter." Some dictionaries claim themust be unmarried, so maybe "missy" would be a better translation?In anime, it's often the case where, if such a girl does something, and there's a villain that doesn't like it, the villain will exclaim something along the lines of:
The word娘 means <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#daughter-in-japanese">"daughter" in Japanese</a> , most of the time. In some cases it simply refers to a girl or girls.</div>

Musume 娘

musume 娘 means Kanji musume musume 娘. This kanji is generally read as musume , but it can be read as jou sometimes. Also, in ce...

Otouto 弟

<div>otouto means <a></a>otouto. 
 
<a name="more"></a><h2 id="otouto-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
otouto <a></a>otouto 弟. It's just a single kanji with a rather long <a></a>The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is弟. It's just a singlewith a rather long <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kanji-readings.html">reading</a> 
 
kanji, sometimes it's seen in other words, like kyoudai 兄弟, "brothers," "siblings," or deshi 弟子, "pupil." 
<h2 id="otouto-vs-oniisan">
Otouto vs. Oniisan</h2>
The difference between otouto and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oniisan-meaning.html">oniisan</a> is that otouto always refers to one's younger brother, while oniisan, oniichan, oniisama usually refers to one's "older brother." 
 
So, in a sense, the opposite of oniisan is otouto, age-wise. These words only apply to male siblings, the opposite gender-wise, the words for "older sister" and "younger sister," would be <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/oneesan-meaning.html">oneesan</a> and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/imouto-meaning.html">imouto</a>. 
 
Note that you can have multiple otouto's, multiple "younger brothers." Because the word otouto doesn't mean "youngest," just "younger." 
 
The "youngest brother" of all your siblings is your mattei 末弟, written with the kanji for "final," matsu 末, probably because he was the last one to be born. You can also simply describe him as ichiban shita no otouto 一番下の弟, literally "the otouto most below (in the age ranking.)" 
<h2 id="otoutosan-usage">
Otoutosan</h2>
Like most, sometimes it's seen in other words, like兄弟, "brothers," "siblings," or弟子, "pupil."The difference betweenandis thatalways refers to one's younger brother, whileusually refers to one's "older brother."So, in a sense, the opposite ofis, age-wise. These words only apply to male siblings, the opposite gender-wise, the words for "older sister" and "younger sister," would beandNote that you can have multiple's, multiple "younger brothers." Because the worddoesn't mean "youngest," just "younger."The "youngest brother" of all your siblings is your末弟, written with thefor "final,"末, probably because he was the last one to be born. You can also simply describe him as一番下の弟, literally "themost below (in the age ranking.)"
 

This happens because this san stuff are called honorifics, and honorifics are used when you want to make a reverence.

 

Since your older brother is your elder, and you should treat your elders with respect, the term oniisan gets the reverencing honorifics. But your younger brother is not your elder, he's your junior, so you don't really make a reverence toward him.

 

One exception is when you're talking about other people's younger brothers. Since it's other people, you might want to speak with respect, so you say otoutosan 弟さん, with a san. 
 
Since you normally don't use honorifics when talking about your own family to other people, otoutosan normally refers to someone else's younger brother, not yours.

 

Beyond otoutosan, there's also the word goreiteisama ご令弟様, which is an even more polite way to refer to other people's younger brothers, and would be used more in writing.

<h2 id="otouto-vs-ototo">
Otouto vs. Otōto</h2>

otouto and otōto, with a macron, is merely that it's a <a></a> 
 
This happens because long vowels, found in syllables like oo おお, ou おう, and oo おー, may be romanized with a macron instead of two vowel letters.The difference betweenand, with a macron, is merely that it's a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/different-romaji-same-word.html">different romaji for the same word</a> This happens because long vowels, found in syllables likeおお,おう, andおー, may be romanized with a macron instead of two vowel letters.
The wordmeans <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#younger-brother-in-japanese">"younger brother" in Japanese</a> . Sometimes it's translated as "little brother" instead, but it's "younger brother." Even if your younger brother is bigger than you he's still your</div>

Otouto 弟

otouto means otouto . Kanji otouto otouto 弟. It's just a single kanji with a rather long The word written with kanji is弟. It&#...

Furigana Dots ﹅ Bouten 傍点

<div><a></a>furigana dots mean??? 
 
 
<h2 id="bouten-function">
What Are They For?</h2>

Basically, these dots are meant to add emphasis in Japanese. What does emphasis mean? It means something is so important-er it needs to be written in a special way to get the point across in text.

<h3>
English Comparison</h3>


In English, we'd emphasize text in the following ways:
<ol>
<li>Bold text.</li>
<li>Italic text.</li>
<li>Underlined text.</li>
<li>All caps.</li>
<li>Marked text.</li>
<li>Bigger text.</li>
<li>All of the above!</li>
</ol>

 
 , specially in smaller type. Italics has the same problem. 
 
By the way, when a computer font is made, the italics and bold versions are normally a whole font by itself. That means a designer went through all the letters and remade them. Japanese, which has very few fonts by comparison, wouldn't afford this luxury with their <a></a> 
 
Of course, it's possible to make the text tilted or bold programmatically, and it's done sometimes on the internet. By the way, italic text done programmatically it's called "oblique" sometimes. 
 
Japanese doesn't have lowercase and uppercase, so no caps. It's true the and are similar as they're counterparts, but it's just not the same thing, but there's no counterpart for the kanji. 
 
In manga, you can find some text balloons with bigger text for emphasis, but that wouldn't be silly in a document or textbook to mark passages of text. 
 
So what remains is putting color in the background, which doesn't work when you have only black and white to work with, and underling text. 
 
The furigana dots are like underlining text. 
<h3>
Effect in Practice</h3>
Alright, so furigana dots in Japanese are like underlining text in English. What are the practical implications of this? 
 
Basically, just like underlining text in English, what exactly the furigana dots mean depend entirely on the author. 
 
The idea that the dots are supposed to emphasize thing remains the same. Some authors use them sparingly. Like, super sparingly. Only adding the furigana dots when they want to hint to the reader something they might overlook. Examples include: 
<h4>
Different voicing.</h4>
Generally speaking, dots adding emphasis and all, implies characters marked by the furigana dots have an emphatic voicing, being pronounced stronger than the rest of the text. 
<h4>
Nudge-nudge.</h4>
Since you're supposed to read them differently, they might used to hint that the character spoke them differently. 
 
For example: "they didn't steal the money" has nothing special in it. But "they didn't steal the money" might mean the character who said this phrase is implying they stole something else by voicing that word differently. The same happens in Japanese. 
<h4>
Chord-Striker</h4>

Sometimes, the dots may be used to imply not that a character said the words with emphasis, but that the words struck a chord with the main character or listener.

 

This usually happens in stories with mystery solving when a character is just reporting facts poker-faced and then he says something that gives someone a mind-blowing epiphany that solves everything, catches every criminal, cures cancer and makes everybody happy forever after.
<h4>
Word-Play</h4>

When there's a wordplay in text the reader might not get, the furigana dot may be used to hint it exists at all.
<h4>
[sic]</h4>

Sometimes, a word appear to be misspelled in manga, as if there was an editorial error, and the furigana dot may be used to tell that it's not misspelled after all, it's written as intended.

 
furigana dot in there and it becomes clear it was totally on purpose and no mistakes were made. 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8w-gajBvs5w0vOZUXQeP5jBtWtD8Tdp0M_BBxDpzvyp1Ohg8HAjlDVi5IQ4ykRy7Dem5zyvX9Ab466IisBnuhJ3ZGKUqyOQWOVC2hE7Lg0X7U80K0X0VHPRh5ZXFeIPA0letiE1sfPY/s1600/bouten-emphasis-mark-ajin.png"><img alt="Satou from Ajin calling himself Katou, an usage example of the Japanese emphasis mark, bouten 傍点" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8w-gajBvs5w0vOZUXQeP5jBtWtD8Tdp0M_BBxDpzvyp1Ohg8HAjlDVi5IQ4ykRy7Dem5zyvX9Ab466IisBnuhJ3ZGKUqyOQWOVC2hE7Lg0X7U80K0X0VHPRh5ZXFeIPA0letiE1sfPY/s1600/bouten-emphasis-mark-ajin.png" title="We know your name means sugar, Satou! Don't lie to us!"></a>This is usually the case in that trope when a character is trying to disguise themselves, and then they're supposed to give their fake names, and everybody knows coming up with names is literally the hardest thing ever, so they just make up something on spot, a slight variation of their real name, and that'll look like the author misspelled their name, so they put adot in there and it becomes clear it was totally on purpose and no mistakes were made.<h4>
Overabundance of Emphasizing</h4>

So far we've been talking about putting a dot or two on a character or two to hint that a word or two must have emphasis, but that's not always the case.
 

Some authors... they fucking underline every fucking damn thing!
 
 

Seriously, what the fuck. It looks like they took this sharpie and just started stabbing the motherfucking text over and over to kill it with EMPHASIS. It's like, you know how some old people on Facebook TYPE EVERYTHING IN ALL CAPS ALL THE DAMN TIME? It's like that, except we're talking about underlining every fucking last single fucking word in the fucking sentence like why'd you even do that what's the point emphasis is relative if everything has emphasis nothing has emphasis goddamnit!!!111

 
Like I said, how the furigana dots are used depends on the author. Some use them sparingly, with precision, like a scalpel to achieve maximum effectiveness. They're like furigana dot assassins, maxing that DEX and CRIT'ng. Meanwhile others just spam the dots like you'd spam Hadouken in Street Fighter.
<h2 id="furigana-dots-names">
What Are They Called</h2>
furigana dots are called in Japanese by the names of bouten 傍点, kenten 圏点 and wakiten 脇点, meaning "side mark," because it's written on the furigana space, besides the text, except for kenten which means "circle mark," because it usually looks like a circle, although it has other shapes. 
 
If you want to know how to use it in a phrase: 
<ul>
<li>kanji ni bouten wo tsukeru 漢字に傍点を付ける 
To add "furigana dots" to kanji.</li>
</ul>
Thedots are called in Japanese by the names of傍点,圏点 and脇点, meaning "side mark," because it's written on thespace, besides the text, except forwhich means "circle mark," because it usually looks like a circle, although it has other shapes.If you want to know how to use it in a phrase:<h2 id="furigana-dots-types">
Types of Furigana Dots</h2>
bouten are usually dots, but they aren't always dots. Literally speaking, bouten are "side marks," and a mark isn't necessarily a dot, likewise, bouten come in various shapes, including: 
 
• ◦ Dot. 
● ○ Circle. 
◉ ◎ Double circle. 
▲ △ Triangle. 
﹅ ﹆ Sesame dot / diagonal tick. 
 
Then there are asterisks, etc. that can be used too. 
 
The simple dot or circle is the most common kind of bouten, followed by the sesame dot, that one that looks like a diagonal tick. 
 
There's no general difference between one furigana dot and the other, it depends on the author. Most of the time, an author will stick to just one kind of dot. If they use two, then you can assume it's like the difference between italic and bold type: the least used has more emphasis. 
 
There are also cases of people that choose the dot depending on the <a></a> 
<h2 id="furigana-dot-placement">
Dot Placement</h2>

Generally speaking, the furigana dots go, well, where the furigana is supposed to be. In vertical writing this is on the right side of the text, in horizontal writing this is atop of the text.

 

Note that usually texts do not have furigana, hence where furigana is supposed to be, would be, if there was any.

 
furigana there's a problem: do you put the bouten there or the <a></a>In the texts that do havethere's a problem: do you put thethere or the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kanji-readings.html">reading of the kanji</a> ? There are three approaches to this.<ol>
<li>Overwrite the reading aid. 
That is, remove the furigana and leave only the bouten.</li>
<li>Put the bouten on the reading aid. 
In this case you'd have the kanji, the reading aid, and the bouten, side by side in a very wide line.</li>
<li>Do not add the bouten. 
If the author is putting bouten on an entire phrase, he might skip the spaces that have reading aids and place the bouten only beside the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/okurigana-meaning.html">okurigana</a> and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kana-meaning.html">kana</a>.</li>
</ol>

 

As always, which approach is used depends on the author..
Theare usually dots, but they aren't always dots. Literally speaking,are "side marks," and a mark isn't necessarily a dot, likewise,come in various shapes, including:• ◦ Dot.● ○ Circle.◉ ◎ Double circle.▲ △ Triangle.﹅ ﹆ Sesame dot / diagonal tick.Then there are asterisks, etc. that can be used too.The simple dot or circle is the most common kind of, followed by the sesame dot, that one that looks like a diagonal tick.There's no general difference between onedot and the other, it depends on the author. Most of the time, an author will stick to just one kind of dot. If they use two, then you can assume it's like the difference between italic and bold type: the least used has more emphasis.There are also cases of people that choose the dot depending on the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/04/japanese-writing-horizontal-or-vertical.html">writing direction</a> . For example, preferring the circle dot in horizontal writing and the sesame dot in vertical writing.<h2 id="furigana-line-bousen">
Furigana Line: Bousen 傍線</h2>

Remember when I said bouten are like underlining text for emphasis? Well, ultimately, bouten are dots, not lines, so it's not really the same thing is it? As you might concur, there isn't that physically stops a Japanese person from underlining Japanese text, well, except for the fact that normally Japanese text is written vertically, so it's more like sidelining text than underlining it.

 
bousen 傍線, literally "side line." Other names include wakisen 脇線 and the <a></a>saidorain サイドライン. 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQyJK3DXatFTkZSikVYyn7FXxIaEgkyQE0KvQny-6sIj4lfsaqECFkPZmIYsFvdvFnGBHEoWkXFNMUUeU9gqSWLU4k7qFSpDcwDX9zqTawoYha2NjB4FDX5w5UawQPczXM36bIL107TM/s1600/bousen-hyouka.gif"><img alt="Sidelining, bousen 傍線, Japanese vertical writing equivalent of underlining, as seen in the anime Hyouka 氷菓" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQyJK3DXatFTkZSikVYyn7FXxIaEgkyQE0KvQny-6sIj4lfsaqECFkPZmIYsFvdvFnGBHEoWkXFNMUUeU9gqSWLU4k7qFSpDcwDX9zqTawoYha2NjB4FDX5w5UawQPczXM36bIL107TM/s1600/bousen-hyouka.gif" title="You sidelined this!"></a> The practice of "sidelining" Japanese text would be called傍線, literally "side line." Other names include脇線 and the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/katakanization-meaning.html">katakanization</a> of the word "sideline,"サイドライン.
This bousen'ng normally happens when someone literally draws a side line using a pencil or pen or something, but you can sometimes encounter it in manga and printed media too.
<h2 id="html-css-support-bouten">
HTML & CSS Support</h2>
As far as HTML is concerned, you can mark up underlined text with and emphasized text with and then use CSS to style that because those tags are a fucking retarded mess. 
<h3>
 Debacle</h3>
People were like, we gotta separate structure and presentation, and everybody agreed. What they couldn't figure out, though, was what was structure and what was presentation. 
 
So somebody was like, italics is presentation, not structure. And then after getting high snorting apparently meaningless semantics, which to be fair you'd need a very high IQ to understand, they arbitrarily decided italic was the same as emphasis, removed and put in place. 
 
And they were like "oh, you want italics but not emphasis? Then just slap some in there and use C... S... S....!!11111 For presentatiooonnnnnnn~~~~!" 
 
Then they woke up and realized italics isn't the same thing as emphasis, and italics is structural information, not just presentation, and then they put back where it belonged: on HTML. 
 
Since now italics are considered structural you'd imagine bouten are structural too, since there's no guarantee the typographic device correlates perfectly with emphasis. Likewise, whatever weird thing other languages use in their text should be be structural too, amiright? 
 
But of course there's no tag for them lmao 
 
It's or nothing lmao 
 
Just add bouten with CSS lmao 
<h3>
Adding Bouten 傍点 with CSS</h3>
Support for bouten with CSS is minimal as of now. It relies on <a></a><a></a> 
 
As far as I can tell, in Chrome, the <code>circle</code> option is the only one that looks alright. 
<code>text-emphasis: circle;</code> 

これぞ 
CSSの力!!
 
If you add an <code>open</code> you can make it hollow. For example, next I'll add a hollow <code>triangle</code>. It looks rather small in chrome. 
<code>text-emphasis: open triangle;</code> 

これも 
CSSの力!
 
The diagonal tick that you see sometimes in manga is done using the <code>sesame</code> option. This one looks extremely minuscule here in Chrome, which is unfortunate. Firefox appears to render it better. 
<code>text-emphasis: sesame;</code> 

これが 
最後だ
 
There are other options but this is documented better on Mozilla Developer Network, etc. So I guess our journey ends here. 
 

俺達の傍点は 
これからだっ!!!
<h2 id="historic-usage-bouten">
Historic Usage</h2>
furigana dots were once used instead of dakuten in some cases. (from <a></a>This isn't the case anymore, but it seems that, historically, thedots were once used instead ofin some cases. (from <a href="https://www.tulips.tsukuba.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2241/4319/1/B0024.pdf">日本声調史論考</a> 
 

dakuon-gana ni subete 濁音仮名にすべて

dakuten ga kuwaerareru 濁点が加えられる

you ni natta no wa ようになったのは、

zutto ato no jiki ずっとあとの時期

no koto de atte のことであって

The practice of putting accent marks (dakuten) in all accented kana happened much later.

 

sono katoki ni その過渡期に

kenten ni yoru 圏点による

fudakuten ga 不濁点が

mochiirareteiru koto 用いられていること。

In the transition period the furigana dots (kenten) were used.

Sometimes when reading manga you might come across certain dots, points, circles, diagonal marks, or something of the sort in the <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/11/furigana-meaning.html">furigana 振り仮名</a> space beside the words, and you might ask: what do thesedots mean???But in Japanese that's a bit troublesome. In particular, making Japanese text bolder makes it harder to read complex, specially in smaller type. Italics has the same problem.By the way, when a computer font is made, the italics and bold versions are normally a whole font by itself. That means a designer went through all the letters and remade them. Japanese, which has very few fonts by comparison, wouldn't afford this luxury with their <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/jouyou-kanji.html">thousands and thousands of characters</a> . So this is impractical.Of course, it's possible to make the text tilted or bold programmatically, and it's done sometimes on the internet. By the way, italic text done programmatically it's called "oblique" sometimes.Japanese doesn't have lowercase and uppercase, so no caps. It's true theandare similar as they're counterparts, but it's just not the same thing, but there's no counterpart for theIn manga, you can find some text balloons with bigger text for emphasis, but that wouldn't be silly in a document or textbook to mark passages of text.So what remains is putting color in the background, which doesn't work when you have only black and white to work with, and underling text.Thedots are like underlining text.Alright, sodots in Japanese are like underlining text in English. What are the practical implications of this?Basically, just like underlining text in English, what exactly thedots mean depend entirely on the author.The idea that the dots areto emphasize thing remains the same. Some authors use them sparingly. Like, super sparingly. Only adding thedots when they want to hint to the reader something they might overlook. Examples include:Generally speaking, dots adding emphasis and all, implies characters marked by thedots have an emphatic voicing, being pronounced stronger than the rest of the text.Since you're supposed to read them differently, they might used to hint that the character spoke them differently.For example: "they didn't steal the money" has nothing special in it. But "they didn't steal" might mean the character who said this phrase is implying they stole something else by voicing that word differently. The same happens in Japanese.As far as HTML is concerned, you can mark up underlined text with and emphasized text with and then use CSS to style that because those tags are a fucking retarded mess.People were like, we gotta separate structure and presentation, and everybody agreed. What they couldn't figure out, though, was what was structure and what was presentation.So somebody was like, italics is presentation, not structure. And then after getting high snorting apparently meaningless semantics, which to be fair you'd need a very high IQ to understand, they arbitrarily decided italic was the same as emphasis, removed and put in place.And they were like "oh, you want italics but not emphasis? Then just slap some back where it belonged: on HTML.Since now italics are considered structural you'dare structural too, since there's no guarantee the typographic device correlates perfectly with emphasis. Likewise, whatever weird thing other languages use in their text should be be structural too, amiright?But of course there's no tag for them lmaoIt's or nothing lmaoJust addwith CSS lmaoSupport forwith CSS is minimal as of now. It relies on <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-emphasis">text-emphasis</a> properties, and <a href="https://caniuse.com/#search=text-emphasis">caniuse.com reports text-emphasis support across browsers</a> at tiny 16% right now. So if this doesn't work on your browser, don't be surprised. This is, after all, some ultra advanced CSS3 witchcraftery.As far as I can tell, in Chrome, theoption is the only one that looks alright.If you add anyou can make it hollow. For example, next I'll add a hollow. It looks rather small in chrome.The diagonal tick that you see sometimes in manga is done using theoption. This one looks extremely minuscule here in Chrome, which is unfortunate. Firefox appears to render it better.There are other options but this is documented better on Mozilla Developer Network, etc. So I guess our journey ends here.in there and use C... S... S....!!11111 For presentatiooonnnnnnn~~~~!"Then they woke up and realized italics isn't the same thing as emphasis, and italics is structural information, not just presentation, and then they put</div>

Furigana Dots ﹅ Bouten 傍点

furigana dots mean??? What Are They For? Basically, these dots are meant to add emphasis in Japanese. What does emphasis mean? It m...

Musuko 息子

<div>musuko means <a></a> 
 
<h2 id="musuko-kanji">
Kanji</h2>
musuko <a></a>musuko 息子.The word <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/words-written-with-kanji.html">written with kanji</a> is息子.
 
<a href="http://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kanji-meaning.html">kanji</a> can be read as ko 子, but normally you don't read 息 as musu. So how come 息子 is read musuko?Note that the 子can be read as子, but normally you don't read 息 as. So how come 息子 is read
 
musuko is a <a></a><a></a> 
 
But then where does the musu come from? From the word musu 生す, which means to give birth to, to spawn, to grow something from nothing, etc. (reference: <a></a>This happens becauseis a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/jukujikun-reading-meaning.html">jukujikun 熟字訓</a> reading, so it doesn't conform to the standard <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/kanji-readings.html">readings of the kanji</a> But then where does thecome from? From the word生す, which means to give birth to, to spawn, to grow something from nothing, etc. (reference: <a href="http://gogen-allguide.com/mu/musuko.html">息子 - gogen-allguide.com</a> <h2 id="musukosan-meaning">
Musukosan</h2>
<a></a><a></a>musuko does not. Why is that? Why musuko doesn't have a <a></a> 
 
Well, this happens because honorifics are used to make reverence, and though you'd normally make a reverence toward your elders, it'd be silly to do the same toward your juniors. That's why musuko doesn't have a san, but the words for "father" and "mother," <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/otousan-meaning.html">otousan</a> and <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/okaasan-meaning.html">okaasan</a>, do. 
 
Note, however, that the word musukosan 息子さん does exist. Because when you're speaking about other people, in this case, other people's sons, then using the honorific is a sign of respect. Based on this, musuko is often your own son, while musukosan is pretty much always someone else's son.You may have that, while a bunch of <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html">words for family members in Japanese</a> follow an <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/03/o-san-pattern.html">o__san お〇〇さん pattern</a> , the worddoes not. Why is that? Whydoesn't have a <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2016/07/kun-san-chan-sama-meaning.html">san honorific</a> in it?Well, this happens because honorifics are used to make reverence, and though you'd normally make a reverence toward your elders, it'd be silly to do the same toward your juniors. That's whydoesn't have a, but the words for "father" and "mother,"and, do.Note, however, that the word息子さん does exist. Because when you're speaking about other people, in this case, other people's sons, then using the honorific is a sign of respect. Based on this,is often your own son, whileis pretty much always someone else's son.<h2 id="magomusuko-meaning">
Magomusuko</h2>

Sometimes the word musuko 息子 comes after the word mago 孫, which means "grandchild," turning into magomusuko 孫息子. This magomusuko means "grandson" instead of the neutral "grandchild."
<h2 id="slang-usage">
Slang Usage</h2>

Colloquially, the term musuko may sometimes be used as a slang to refer to one's own penis instead of their son. I'll leave the reason for this to the reader's imagination.

 

In particular, the phrase—
<ul>
<li>itsumo musuko ga osewa ni natteorimasu いつも息子がお世話になっております 
Often [my] son is in [your] care. (literally) 
Thank you for taking care of my son.</li>
</ul>

 

—is normally an innocent expression of gratitude, but, specially in the internet, it can mean something perverted instead.

The wordmeans <a href="https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/04/family-members.html#son-in-japanese">"son" in Japanese</a> , most of the time.</div>

Musuko 息子

musuko means Kanji musuko musuko 息子. The word written with kanji is息子. kanji can be read as ko 子, but normally you don't re...