The "N" Word (Nワード)
Mar 09, 2020
Creator
Language Lackquisition #3: The "N" Word (Nワード)
よく分かりませんが多くの西洋のアニメファンは「仲間」の意味が「Friend(友達、友人)」と思っているらしいです。彼らに「仲間はそういう意味じゃないんだ。もっと漠然だよ。「Colleague」の方が相当だ」と言うと私よりもっと片言の日本語で「バ~カ~」と言われます。
This week, Doc allows his friend, Emi, to say the "N" word. Immediate regret ensues.
A lot of anime nerds seem to think the Japanese word, "nakama" (properly written as "仲間") means "friend". It doesn't, at least, not directly. The Japanese dictionary, Goo辞書 describes "nakama" as "一緒に物事をする間柄。また、その人。" which roughly translates to "A person you do shit with". Do you do shit with friends? Of course but you also do shit with family, co-workers, acquaintances, enemies, strangers, hookers, etc.
"Nakama" is a fairly vague word to describe people you have some kind of relation with, with little regard to the closeness to the person. If you know someone and they're not your boss, they're likely your "nakama". The closest English equivalent would be "colleague". A better Japanese word to describe your actual friends would be "友達(tomodachi)" or "友人(yuujin)".
Recommendation for you
Recommendation
Out of the Blue
Romance 2.4m likes
Recommendation
Do You Even Witch
BL 4.5m likes
Recommendation
The Little Trashmaid
Comedy 648.8k likes
Recommendation
Bound-The Contract
BL 1.4m likes
Recommendation
Humor me
Slice of life 2.8m likes
Recommendation
Strange and Wild
BL 524.7k likes
Feeling lucky
Random series you may like
2.2k views11 subscribers
Comments (0)
See all