Japanese Hobby

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...