Phrases · Updated October 2026

Common anime phrases, explained

The lines you hear in almost every series, taken apart: what each piece means, how polite or rude it is, and who tends to say it.

• daijoubu大丈夫
  "Okay," "Are you okay?" or "No thanks"
• nakama仲間
  The people on your side
• itadakimasuいただきます
  Thanks for the food, before the first bite
• omae wa mou shindeiruお前はもう死んでいる
  Kenshiro’s "You are already dead"
• nani何
  "What?!" and the reading nan
• ganbatte頑張って
  Cheering someone on with "Do your best"
• sugoiすごい
  "Amazing!" and its rougher form, sugee
• kawaiiかわいい
  More than just "cute"
• bakaバカ
  When "idiot" is teasing, and when it hurts
• arigatouありがとう
  Choosing how politely to say thanks
• onii-chanお兄ちゃん
  An affectionate "big brother"
• senpai先輩
  Someone who joined before you
• yattaやった
  A shout of "I did it!"
• dattebayoだってばよ
  The habit behind Naruto’s catchphrase
• yameteやめて
  Asking or telling someone to stop

Word lists by series

Want the vocabulary of a specific show? Browse word lists for 42 anime, built from their Japanese subtitles.