Sections
Ki (気): what it means in anime
気
き · ki · spirit; mind; heart JLPT N4
Ki means "spirit", "mind" or "energy", and it is one of the most productive words in Japanese. Dozens of everyday expressions are built on it: 気をつけて ("take care"), 気にしない ("don't mind it"), 気がする ("I have a feeling").
Where you hear it 9 of 42 series
Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.
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No Game No Life · 6 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
兄ちゃんは気にするの 健全なのじゃなきゃダメ！Your brother minds!
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Erased · 10 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
配達 出ます おお 気を付けてな
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Soul Eater · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
気をつけて ブラック☆スター
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NANA · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
気が遠くなりそうなくらい痛い
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Spy x Family · 8 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
いかん 気を引き締め直さんと
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Vinland Saga · 7 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
戦場じゃ 背中に気をつけろよ
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Horimiya · 7 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
ていうか 外で歌うとか… 気をつけよ
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Demon Slayer · 5 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
十分 気をつけます
Also in: Toradora!.
Usage and nuance
Learn the set phrases rather than the word alone: 気になる (to be on one's mind, to be curious about), 気に入る (to like), 気が合う (to get along), 気が強い (strong-willed), 気のせい (just your imagination). Anime dialogue is full of all of them.
In battle shounen 気 is also the energy fighters sense and release, as in Dragon Ball. Hunter x Hunter calls its version 念 (nen) instead, but the idea comes from 気.
The same character is in 元気 (genki, healthy, energetic), 天気 (tenki, weather) and 人気 (ninki, popularity).
Hear 気 in No Game No Life6 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account