Glossary of Japanese Words and Phrases used in Manga

Hello, manga lovers out there. When I first started reading manga I had a tough time getting to know what these Japanese terms meant and it somewhat detracted from my manga reading experience.
So to make sure everyone out there gets maximum enjoyment from their manga, I have listed some of the most frequently used terms and their meanings.
Also please remember that Japanese is a very context based language. So the sentence "He loves her" can easily be misinterpreted as "I love you". Hilarious misunderstandings therefore ensue XD.

Suffixes:

In Japan, the suffix you add to names indicates the relationship you have with the person. This is a VERY important part to remember when you read manga. Listed below are the suffixes you may come across.

-*no suffix*: Indicates you know that person intimately. Usually used between lovers ,very good friends, or family.

-chan: Cutesy way of calling someone. Usually for girls and sometimes for small boys.

-desu: Has no actual meaning. Indicates old style of talking.

-degozaru: Also has no actual meaning. Indicates old style of talking. (Usually you'll see ninjas and samurais use this term)

-dono: Similar to "-sama". Slightly old fashioned way of addressing someone.

-kun: Usually for boys. Rarely used for girls.

-sama: Formal usage. To indicate person has a higher status than you.

-san: Used generally for people you have an undefined relationship or a slightly formal relationship. Both men and women.

-tan: Babyish way of saying "-san"

-tama: Babyish way of saying "-sama"


Relationships:

Listed below are how people related to each other, call each other in Japan.
Also please note that adding the prefix O- before addressing someone is more respectful.

Aneki/Aniki/Aniiki: Older brother (Gangster style/Very Crude way of addressing)

Anesan/Aneesan: Older sister (Gangster style/Very Crude way of addressing)

Baa-san: Generic term for addressing an older woman. (Whom you may or may not be related to.)

Banchou/Bancho: Delinquent Gang Leader

Bozu: Little boy (Slightly rude)

Imouto: Little sister

Jii-san: Generic term for addressing an older man. (Whom you may or may not be related to.)

Kaa-san: Mother

Kaicho/Shachou/Kaichou: President

Kouhai/Kohai: Underclassman

Nee-san: Older sister (Casual)

Nii-san: Older brother (Casual)

Obaa-san: Generic term for addressing an older woman. (Whom you may or may not be related to.)

Ojii-san: Generic term for addressing an older person. (Whom you may or may not be related to.)

Okaa-san: Mother

Okyaku-san/Okyaku-sama: Customer-san/Customer-sama

Onee-san: Older sister (Is also used to address a female slightly older than you)

Onee-sama: Older sister (Respectful)

Onii-san: Older brother (Is also used to address a male slightly older than you)

Onii-sama: Older brother (Respectful)

Otou-san: Father

Sempai/Senpai: Upperclassman

Sensei: Teacher

Taichou/Taicho: Captain

Tou-san: Father


Addressing Yourself:

There are different ways how the characters address themselves.

Boku: I (Neutral) -----> But guys use it more often than girls

Ore: I (Masculine)

Watakushi: I (Feminine; Very Formal) ----> Almost never used by guys

Watashi/Atashi: I (Feminine) -----> Weak guys in manga use this too


Miscellaneous Terms:

Ano... : Errr...

Arigatou: Thank You

Arigatou Gozaimasu: Thank You Very Much

Baka/Bakaryou/Baaro: Stupid/Idiot

Dame: No

Daijoubu: Are you all right?

Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu: Thank You Very Much (Respectfully)

Ecchi: Mildly perverted

Engrish: Sort of fusion of Japanese and English

Gaijin: Foreigner

Ganbatte/Ganbatteyo: I will do my best/Do your best

Gaukon/Goukon: A mixer party; A party where guys and girls get together to hook up with each other; Basically a hook-up party.

Gome/Gomenasai: Sorry

Hai: Yes

Harakiri: Ritualistic suicide by cutting open your stomach with a sword.

Hentai/Hentei: Pervert/Porn (It's the same word)

Hiragana: Phonetic Script of the Japanese Language

Ichi: One

Inu: Dog

Ittadakimasu: Something Japanese people say just before partaking a meal.

Jan-Ken-Pon: Rock-Paper-Scissors

Josei: Young Women

Kanji: Complex script of the Japanese Language

Katana: Japanese Sword

Katanaka: Simplest script of The Japanese Language.

Kawaii: Cute

Kissu: Kiss or a type of edible fish (Not surprisingly, it's often used as a pun)

Kitsune: Fox

Koi: Love or a type of edible fish (Not surprisingly, it's often used as a pun)

Koniichiwa: Hello

Koukou Sei: High School

Moukou Sei: Middle School

Moshi Moshi: Actually doesn't mean anything. But is used in place of hello in japanese 'Telephone' conversations.

Nakama: Friends

Nandemonai: No Problem (lol Sagara Sousuke's Catchphrase XD )

Nandeyo: What? (Exasperated)

Nani: What?

Ne...: Umm..../Hey (Depends on the context)

Neko: Cat

Ni: Two or SFX for a smile (Often used as a pun)

Nippon: Japan

Omiai: An arranged marriage meeting; It's a meeting where a prospective bride and groom (usually arranged by the family) meet each other in hopes of getting married (That only happens if both agree....)

Onegai: Please

Oyasumi/Oyasuminasai: Good Night

Pan: Bread (Usually used as a suffix, e.g. Anpan: Melon Bread)

Ryokai: Roger

Reiatsu: Spirit Pressure (Bleach fans should know this!)

Sakura: Cherry Blossoms (Also a very common girl's name)

San: Three (Please note this is not a suffix like "-san")

Seinen: Young Adults

Sepukku: Ritualistic suicide by cutting open your stomach with a sword.

Shinkansen: Bullet Train

Shoujo: Girl

Shounen: Boy

Siniemasen/Senimasen: Excuse me

Sugooi: WOW!!! (Pronounced as Sugo-oi)

Suki/Ai: Love

Sukiyaki: Japanese style hotpot

Tadaima: Something that Japanese people say which sort of means "I'm Home"

Takiyoki: Octopus balls (It's eaten in japan !!! )

Tantei/Mei Tantei: Detective/ Great Detective

Tomodachi - Friend

Wakarimashta: Understood

Yakuza: Japanese Mafia

Yaoi: Gay (Guy on Guy)

Yoroshiku: Shortened casual form of "Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu"

Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu: Literally means "Please Take Care of Me", but loosely means "Let us get along well."

Youkai/Yokai: Monsters/Supernatural Beings

Youki/Yoki: Evil Spirit Pressure (Usually from Monsters or Evil Beings)

Yukata: A light cotton Kimono sort of gown worn in summer.

Yuri: Lesbian (Girl on Girl)

Then there are other more complicated terms which are explained in the manga itself by the translator .... But I'll not go into that now :D

You can add to this list too!!! Just leave the term and it's meaning in the comments box!!!

P.S. - I wrote all of this from memory alone and did not copy-paste from anywhere. All terms put in the comments box have also been integrated into it.