Japanese in manga
Every translation note
One line of manga each, with what the official English had to give up to carry it. Filter by the kind of Japanese, by JLPT level, or by series.
174 notes
By kind of Japanese
- All174
- Honorifics & keigo17
- Role language19
- Register & tone35
- First-person pronouns9
- Second-person pronouns4
- Villain speech5
- Idioms55
- Body idioms48
- Four-character idioms18
- Proverbs7
- Kanji anatomy81
- Buddhist vocabulary39
- Language around death7
- Wordplay10
- Classical & archaic Japanese4
- No English equivalent40
- One word, many renderings34
- False friends5
- Cultural localisation6
By JLPT level
By series
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諦めろバカ息子コビーの覚悟は本物だぞ！！
“HEY, IDIOT-SON-OF-THE-CAPTAIN! KOBY MEANS IT!”
Seeing It Clearly Enough to Let Go: 諦める and the Buddhist Truth English Buries Under "Give Up"
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ごむ人間？悪運の強さは認めるが多少頭は打ったか…
“RUBBER MAN? YOU'VE GOT THE DEVIL'S OWN LUCK, BOY. BUT THAT HIT MUST HAVE SCRAMBLED YOUR BRAINS...”
Luck With a Criminal Record: 悪運 and the Devil English Hired to Explain It
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このまま…病で貴方は命を落とすでしょう
“AS A HUMAN, YOU WILL PROBABLY LOSE YOUR LIFE TO DISEASE.”
Too Polite to Say Your Name: 貴方 and the 'You' That Completes the Register Spectrum
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負傷すればする程動きが鈍くなる…足を引っ張ることになる
“...AND THE MORE I HOLD HIMEJIMA BACK.”
Not That Kind of Leg-Pull: 足を引っ張る and the False Friend VIZ Had to Dodge
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それによってキミらに〝仲間の足を引っ張ってしまう！！〟という想像を絶するプレッシャーを与えたわけだ…？
“WITH THAT RULE, I PRESSURED YOU WITH THE FEAR THAT ANYTHING YOU DID WRONG... ...WOULD BRING YOUR TEAMMATES DOWN WITH YOU.”
Pulling a Leg, Dead Serious: 足を引っ張る and the False Friend Naruto Also Has to Dodge
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助太刀に入った所で足手まといでしかないとわかるから動けねぇ
“I KNOW THAT IF I GO IN TO HELP, I'LL ONLY GET IN THE WAY.”
Three Speakers, One Verdict: 足手まとい and the Hindrance VIZ Can't Stop Choosing
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足手まといにしかなってないじゃない…！
“I'M JUST A BURDEN TO THEM... JUST SOMEONE THEY HAVE TO PROTECT!”
Tied Hand and Foot: 足手まとい and the Burden VIZ Keeps Calling "In the Way"
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足手まといになるから…ヒナ迷惑
“IF YOU GET IN MY WAY, HINA WILL BE VERY UPSET.”
Hina Talks About Hina: 足手まとい and the Body VIZ Turns Into a Warning
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ふん…やかましい貴様の様に病人の足元を見て金をふんだくる悪徳医者には何も言われたかねェな！！
“HMPH! SHUT UP! I DON'T NEED A LECTURE FROM A GREED-DRIVEN WITCH! YOU'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY!”
Judging a Traveler by His Feet: 足元を見る and the Bargaining Trick VIZ Melts Into 'Greed'
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ベろベろべろ！！あたいの勝手だよ！！！
“PBBFT! YEAH, WELL THATS MY PROBLEM.”
That's My Problem: あたい and the Tomboy's ‘I’ English Flattens to Plain ‘I’
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煩悩鳳！！！
“...POUND PHOENIX !!!!”
108 Desires, 108 Pounds: 煩悩鳳 and the Bilingual Pun VIZ Could Only Print Half Of
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無礼者っ！！
“HOW DARE YOU!”
Know Your Place: 無礼者 and the Hierarchy VIZ Flattens into Anger
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武運を祈る
“I PRAY FOR YOUR SUCCESS.”
A Prayer for the Luck of War: 武運を祈る and the Warlord's Send-Off English Turns Into a Memo
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茶番は終わりだ！！この町ごと吹き飛ばす！！！全て消し飛ばしてやる！！！
“TEATIME'S OVER, KIDDIES! WE'RE GOING TO LIGHT UP THIS TOWN!! UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT!!!”
The Tea Inside the Farce: 茶番 and the False Friend VIZ Turned into a Great Line
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昔の血が騒ぎ出しかねない
“...MY OLD BLOOD MIGHT START BUBBLING UP...”
Blood That Riots on Its Own: 血が騒ぐ and the Agency English Won't Give Up
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てめェにゃ血も涙もねェのかァ！！！
“HAVE YOU NO FEELINGS?! ARE YOU MADE OF STONE?!!”
No Blood, No Tears: 血も涙もない and the Stone and Heart English Reaches for Instead
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あァわがままな畜生だ
“WHAT A SPOILED BRAT YOU ARE.”
Born an Animal: 畜生 and the Buddhist Curse Word English Turns Into "&%$!!!!"
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いい加減にして頂戴
“YOU MUST RESTRAIN YOURSELF.”
Please Give Me the Favor of Your Silence: 頂戴 and the Humble "Receive" English Reads as a Bare Command
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あ〝てばね〟って言った！
“YOU SAID YA KNOW!”
Believe It!: The Strange Journey of Naruto's Untranslatable Verbal Tic
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出る杭は打たれるって言うしなハハハ
“YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY! THE NAIL THAT STICKS UP IS THE ONE THAT GETS HAMMERED DOWN, RIGHT? HEH-HEH-HEH...”
The Stake Kakashi Buried Twice: 出る杭は打たれる and the One Proverb VIZ Left Alone
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普段どれ程善良な人間であっても土壇場で本性が出る
“NO MATTER HOW RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE USUALLY ARE, THEY REVEAL THEIR TRUE SELVES IN TIMES OF DISASTER.”
Kneeling at the Block: 土壇場 and the Execution Ground English Only Hits by Accident
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こりゃあ縁起がいいなあ
“WHAT LUCK!”
Nothing Arises Alone: 縁起 and the Doctrine of Dependent Origination Flattened into "WHAT LUCK!"
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その縁起の悪りィ首飾り．．．もらうからな．．．
“THAT BAD LUCK NECKLACE AROUND YOUR NECK... I'M GONNA TAKE IT...”
The Necklace With a Body Count: 縁起が悪い and the Omen VIZ Flattens into "Bad Luck"
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腑に落ちねェ……！！
“IT JUST STICKS IN MY CRAW!”
Understanding Is Digestion: 腑に落ちない and the Organ English Only Sometimes Finds
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風前の灯火のジジィが！
“YOU OLD FOOL!”
Snuffing the Flame: 風前の灯火 and the Dying Man English Called a Fool
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狐の餓鬼は間合いの内側
“THE FOX-BRAT IS IN STRIKING RANGE!”
The Demons' Word for Their Own Kind: 餓鬼 and the Hungry-Ghost Hell Behind Every "Brat"
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誰が好んで海賊なんて外道になるか
“...AND IT DOESN'T INVOLVE BECOMING A STINKING PIRATE!”
Outside the Path: 外道 and the Buddhist Heretic English Turns Into "Stinking," "Brute," and "Fiend"
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ご武運を…
“I WISH YOU GOOD FORTUNE IN WAR!”
The Blessing That Lost Its Verb: ご武運を and the Send-Off English Had to Spell Out
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何という極悪非道
“THAT'S POSITIVELY DIABOLIC!”
No Devil Required: 極悪非道 and the Off-the-Way Wickedness VIZ Turns Christian
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極楽
“*SIGNS: PARADISE”
Paradise in the Wallpaper: 極楽 and the Footnote VIZ Used When the Kanji Wouldn't Move
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いい御身分だなァ
“WELL, AREN'T YOU SOMETHING?”
Must Be Nice, Said With a Bow: いい御身分だな and the Honorific English Strips Out of the Insult
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ましてや社長の正体など言語道断
“AND ESPECIALLY NOT THE BOSS'S.”
The Road Where Words Are Cut Off: 言語道断 and the Buddhist Silence VIZ Turns into an Ellipsis
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カカシはござる口調だった！
“The Kakashi That Might Have Been”
The Kakashi That Might Have Been: ござる and the Samurai Copula English Has No Voice For
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まるで歯が立たないんです……！
“I'M NO MATCH FOR HIM!”
Teeth That Can't Get a Grip: 歯が立たない and the Bite VIZ Turns Into a Verdict
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お手並み拝見といくか．．．
“SHOW US WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF!”
I Shall Humbly Behold Your Skill: 拝見 and the Mock-Reverent "Show Us" VIZ Flattens to a Dare
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俺は鼻が利くから平気だよ
“I'VE GOT A GOOD NOSE FOR TROUBLE. I'LL BE FINE.”
A Nose for Trouble He Never Claimed: 鼻が利く and the Object English Demands
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おーおー腹の虫が鳴っとるね
“OH, MY. LISTEN TO ALL THE LITTLE STOMACHS GROWL!”
A Worm Lives in Your Belly: 腹の虫 and the Tiny Tenant English Evicts
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自分自身を囮に使ったのだあの腹黒は
“THAT WICKED MAN USED HIMSELF AS A LURE.”
A Black Belly, a Plain Villain: 腹黒 and the Truth-Organ English Trades for "Wicked"
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ふて腐れてへそを曲げた
“...SO HE TOOK IT REALLY HARD.”
The Navel Goes Crooked: へそを曲げる and the Sulk English Straightens Out
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反乱軍の火に油を注ぐ様なものです！！
“...WILL ONLY INCITE THE REBELS FURTHER!”
Same Metaphor, Free of Charge: 火に油を注ぐ and the Idiom VIZ Left on the Table
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その誇りの高さゆえ人がおれを“ホコリのウソップ”と呼ぶ程にな！！
“WHICH IS WHY THEY CALL ME "PROUD CAPTAIN USOPP"!”
A Proud Man Named Dust: 誇り／ホコリ and the Boast VIZ Took at His Word
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だから骨が折れるまで締めつけることもできる
“AND WITH THIS SAME POWER, I CAN KEEP SQUEEZING AND CONSTRICTING UNTIL YOUR BONES CRACK!”
Textbook Idiom, Literal Threat: 骨が折れる and the Bones VIZ Never Turns Into a Metaphor
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鞭でめった打ちにされようが骨を折られようが
“I COULD TAKE THE PUNISHMENT.”
Two Grammars, One Bone: 骨を折る and the Passive Voice VIZ Collapses Into "Punishment"
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トビ…仏の顔も三度までだ…
“TOBI, EVEN THE BUDDHA LOSES PATIENCE EVENTUALLY...”
Even the Buddha Keeps Count: 仏の顔も三度 and the Three VIZ Rounded Off to "Eventually"
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井の中の吠えし蛙よ
“YOU'RE A LITTLE FROG, CROAKING IN YOUR PUDDLE.”
A Frog Kept, a Well Lost: 井の中の蛙 and the Proverb VIZ Shrinks to a Puddle
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かたわらに潜む白にその戦いの一部始終を観察させていたワケだ
“HAKU, WHO WAS HIDING NEARBY, OBSERVED AND STUDIED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR FIGHT, FROM BEGINNING TO END.”
One Whole Book, Start to Finish: 一部始終 and the "Part" That Secretly Means "Everything"
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いやごくろう戦いの一部始終を見せてもらった
“I SAW THE WHOLE THING. WELL DONE.”
The Part That Means the Whole: 一部始終 and the Start-to-Finish VIZ Compresses Into Three Words
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船長一網打尽ですっ！！
“CAPTAIN! HE GOT THE WHOLE CREW WITH ONE SWEEP!”
One Cast, Every Fish: 一網打尽 and the Net English Swaps for a Broom's Sweep
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何の因果か知らねェが
“DUNNO WHAT YOU'RE AFTER, BUT...”
By What Twist of Karma: 何の因果か and the Bewildered Shrug VIZ Turns into a Question of Motive
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ケンカばっかしてるあの２人にそんな因縁があったとは…
“WHO'D A THUNK THAT THOSE TWO, WHO FIGHT LIKE CATS 'N' DOGS, HAD SUCH A BOND?”
One Word for Fate and Grudge: 因縁 and the Karmic Tie English Splits Five Ways
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英雄！英雄！犬死になんてするかってばよ！！
“I'M NOT GONNA THROW MY LIFE AWAY! I WANT TO BE LIKE THEM- A HERO!”
A Dog's Death: 犬死に and the Animal English Already Has, But Won't Use
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「いらっしゃいませイカ野郎」！！
“"WELCOME, SQUID-FACE!!"”
Bowing While Insulting You: いらっしゃいませ and the Sonkeigo Greeting VIZ Turned Into "Welcome, Squid-Face"
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クク…でもまぁ安心しろ全くの一心同体ってワケじゃない
“HA HA... BUT DON'T WORRY. WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY ASSIMILATED.”
One Body, Not One Heart: 一心同体 and the Bond VIZ Flattens Into "Assimilated"
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洗ってお返し致しますからこちらを着て
“I'LL BRING THEM BACK. PLEASE WEAR THESE FOR NOW.”
Doing It With a Bow: 致す and the Humble Verb English Reads as Plain "Do"
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刃を向けてくる者は一刀両断にせねばならぬ
“...AND I MUST CLEAVE ANYONE WHO TURNS A SWORD UPON ME.”
One Stroke, Two Pieces: 一刀両断 and the Old English Verb That Keeps the Cut but Drops the Count
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何より邪念が強い…
“...FAR MORE MALEVOLENT...”
The Chakra's Own Readout: 邪念 and the Mindfulness English Turns Into a Mood
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あァ困るね武器は邪念と暴力しか生まねェ！！
“WEAPONS GIVE BIRTH TO WICKED THOUGHTS AND VIOLENCE!!”
The Thought Gone Off the Path: 邪念 and the Buddhist Mindfulness English Splits Into "Wicked," "Sedition," and "Distraction"
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そうだ自暴自棄になって大勢殺した
“YES, I KILLED MANY IN MY DESPERATION!”
Twice Against Herself: 自暴自棄 and the Mencius Idiom VIZ Always Renders as Desperation
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地獄の果てまで追いかけて
“I'LL FOLLOW YOU TO THE DEPTHS OF HELL...”
The Hell With Levels: 地獄 and the Eight Buddhist Underworlds English Flattens to One
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地獄へ．．．行くんだよォ！！
“...TO HELL!!”
Taking Him to Hell: 地獄 and the Eight-Tiered Underworld English Scatters Into Ten Different Words
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自業自得ってのはこの事だな
“THE MORE YOU TRY TO FIGHT IT, THE MORE YOU'LL SUFFER!!”
When Karma Becomes Tactics: 自業自得 and the Buddhist Verdict English Turns into Battle Advice
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だから人は地に顔をうずめ神に慈悲を乞う！！
“THAT IS WHY PEOPLE BOW THEIR HEADS TO THE GROUND AND BEG FOR THE KAMI'S MERCY!!”
A False God's Mercy: 慈悲 and the Twin Compassions English Melts Into One Word
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成仏してください
“REST IN PEACE!”
Praying the Demon Onward: 成仏してください and the Epitaph That Points the Wrong Way
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縦横無尽に動くことが可能足場の悪い所での戦いに適しておりこの回転する部屋に相応しい技だと言える
“...MAKING IT PERFECT FOR THIS ROTATING ROOM. IT KEEPS ME READY TO MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION, AND IS WELL SUITED FOR A FIGHT WITH SUCH UNCERTAIN FOOTING.”
One Word for Every Direction: 縦横無尽 and the Four-Character Compass VIZ Flattens to "Any Direction"
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アハハハ堪忍袋って我慢するための袋であって…
“YOUR LIMIT? YOU MEAN YOU'LL GET EXPLOSIVE?”
The Bag That Holds Your Temper: 堪忍袋 and the Etymology Lesson VIZ Blew Up
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私の顔色は悪く見えるか
“DOES MY COMPLEXION LOOK POOR TO YOU?”
A Face Under Surveillance: 顔色 and the Complexion English Stops Reading
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どうした？ああ顔色が悪いぜ…
“WHAT'S WRONG? YOU'RE AS WHITE AS A SHEET.”
White as a Sheet, Blue with Fear: 顔色 and the Color Japanese Leaves Unnamed
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船長に刺された傷だな…！！よくも顔色一つ変えずに立っていられるものだバカが…
“HE COULDN'T HAVE HEALED YET FROM THE WOUNDS THE CAPTAIN GAVE HIM. I'M SURPRISED HE CAN EVEN STAND...”
The Color Everyone Reads: 顔色 and the Signal English Keeps Renaming
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リズムのある言葉は聞いてて気持ちがいいでしょ。「河童の川流れ」とか。「やっぱり春なのね」とかね。「すっかり秋だわね」とか、「ばったり行き倒れ」とか、「つっぱりまわし蹴り」とか、「こってりしょうゆ味」とか。ね、じゃあ20巻スタート。
“Some phrases just have a nice ring to them, y'know? Like, "The water sprite goes flowing down the river." Or, "Ahh, spring." "It's totally autumn." "Drop dead." "Stiff roundhouse kick." Or, "Thick soy broth flavor." See? Let's begin Volume 20.”
When Sound Is the Point: 河童の川流れ and the Rhythm List English Can Only Paraphrase
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かつて“七武海”の一人ジンベエと肩を並べた魚人の海賊
“ARLONG'S A FISH-MAN. HE USED TO BE JIMBEI'S EQUAL.”
Shoulder to Shoulder, Almost: 肩を並べる and the Idiom English Already Owns But Won't Use
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人の風上にもおけん奴だ！！
“WHY, THAT SCUM!!”
Can't Stand Upwind of Him: 風上にも置けない and the Moral Stench English Turns Into "Scum"
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罪なき人に牙を剥こうものならば
“...IF YOU BARE YOUR FANGS AT INNOCENT PEOPLE...”
Baring Fangs, Literally: 牙を剥く and the Idiom English Translates Perfectly by Accident
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弱き者をいたぶる鬼畜
“YOU BRUTES WHO TORMENT THE WEAK!”
Demon and Beast, in One Word: 鬼畜 and the Two Lowest Realms VIZ Squeezes Into "Brutes"
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貴殿ら何用かは知らぬが
“I DO NOT KNOW WHAT BUSINESS BRINGS YOU HERE...”
A Priest's Formal Challenge: 貴殿 and the Officer's "You" VIZ Prints as Plain "You"
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……？剣士殿……！！！貴殿の力を見こんで理不尽な願い申し奉る！！！
“MR. BUSHIDO! YOU'RE STRONG! PLEASE GRANT MY HUMBLE REQUEST!”
An Ostrich's Chivalry: 貴殿 and the Warrior's Formal "You" VIZ Trades for a Nickname
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肝が据わっていると評判だった母はこの日人生初で腰を抜かした
“HER MOTHER HAD ALWAYS BEEN UNFLAPPABLE, BUT ON THIS DAY, SHE WAS SHOCKED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE.”
Courage Sits, Terror Unseats: 肝が据わる・腰を抜かす and the Anatomy English Flattens to Adjectives
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いいか 肝に銘じておけ…
“LISTEN CLOSELY, AND INSTRUCT YOUR MUSCLES...”
Engrave It on Your Liver: 肝に銘じる and the Order VIZ Rerouted to the Muscles
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それだけでも内心肝を冷やしたものだが
“...AND THAT ALONE WAS FRIGHTENING.”
A Cold Liver, Not Cold Blood: 肝を冷やす and the Organ English Never Names
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肝っ玉の座った女だ！！
“YOU'VE GOT GUTS!”
One Organ Over: 肝っ玉 and the Liver English Relocates to the Gut
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おい貴様このおれを誰だと思ってる
“WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?”
From "Your Esteemed Self" to Fighting Words: 貴様 and the Pronoun System English Flattens Into "You"
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なんという腰抜けだ
“WHAT A COWARD!”
Coward by the Hips: 腰抜け and the Anatomy "Coward" Erases
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腰抜け…
“COWARD!”
Losing Your Hips: 腰抜け and the Spine English Grows in Its Place
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ちょ…ちょっと腰が抜けてて
“I'M A LITTLE OFF TODAY.”
One Verb, Two Collapses: 腰が抜ける・腰抜け and the Pun English Drops Along With the Hips
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冨岡が横から口を挟んだとはいえ不死川に一撃を入れた
“TOMIOKA'S DISTRACTION HELPED, BUT IT'S STILL AMAZING HE LANDED A BLOW ON SHINAZUGAWA.”
A Mouth Wedged In Sideways: 口を挟む and the Interjection VIZ Turns Into a Tactic
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下忍のお前がいちいち口を挟むことではないからのォ…
“SO THE OPINIONS OF ONE JUNIOR NINJA DON'T REALLY COUNT...”
Speaking Out of Rank: 口を挟む and the Vote VIZ Never Lets a Genin Cast
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…どんな拷問や幻術にかけられたってボクは口を割らないしね…
“NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF TORTURE OR GENJUTSU YOU INFLICT UPON ME, I WON'T SPILL A SINGLE SECRET...”
The Mouth That Won't Crack: 口を割る and the Interrogation Verb English Loosens Into "Talk"
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だ…だめですよルフィさん！！あんな口車に乗っちゃ…！！
“D-DON'T DO IT, LUFFY!”
Climbing Aboard the Mouth-Wheel: 口車に乗る and the Con-Man Warning VIZ Cut to Four Words
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綱手様が木ノ葉に戻って下さってホントに助かった
“I'M TRULY GRATEFUL THAT LADY TSUNADE HAS RETURNED TO KONOHA.”
The Favor That Flows Downward: くださる and the Superior's Gift VIZ Renders as Plain Gratitude
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胡蝶様の申し付けにより参りました
“WE COME ON ORDERS FROM LADY KOCHO.”
Reporting for Duty With a Bow: 参る and the Humble Verb English Reads as Plain "Go"
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俺たちには目もくれないで兄ちゃんだけ…
“...AND WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT US, IT TOOK MY BROTHER!”
Not Even a Glance to Give: 目もくれない and the Favor English Flattens into a Direction
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暗部に入って半年…最近のお前の言動のおかしさは目に余る
“IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE YOU ENTERED ANBU... WHAT YOU'VE SAID AND DONE SINCE THEN IS TOO STRANGE TO OVERLOOK.”
More Than the Eye Can Hold: 目に余る and the Overflow VIZ Renders as "Overlook"
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畜生目にもの見せてやる！！
“I'LL SHOW YOU!!”
Show You What, Exactly? 目にもの見せる and the Payback English Flattens to "I'll Show You"
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鬼舞辻無惨は目の色を変えてそれを狙ってくるでしょう
“THIS MEANS THAT MUZAN KIBUTSUJI WILL COME FOR HER WITH RENEWED VIGOR...”
Eyes That Never Change Color: 目の色を変える and the Glint VIZ Renamed "Vigor"
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帰って来て目を疑ったぜおれァ…
“I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I RETURNED...”
The One Idiom English Already Owns: 目を疑う and the Quiet Slide from Doubting Your Eyes to Not Believing Them
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．．．んでオレ以外の優秀な奴って目星付いてんのか？
“SO BESIDES ME, YOU GOT ANY EXCELLENT GENIN IN MIND?”
Eye on the Star: 目星 and the Aim English Renders as Just "In Mind"
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たとえそれが冥土の土産でもだ！！
“NOT EVEN AS A DEPARTING GIFT TO HELL...”
A Souvenir for the Underworld: 冥土の土産 and the Hell VIZ Wrote Into Buggy's Threat
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さき程は失礼おわびにフルーツのマチェドニアを召し上がれ
“FORGIVE THE COMMOTION. A FRUIT MACÉDOINE, WITH MY COMPLIMENTS.”
A Verb That Bows: 召し上がる and the Deference English Can't Conjugate
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サクラ耳を貸せ
“SAKURA, LEAN CLOSER.”
Lend Me Your Ears: 耳を貸す and the Shakespearean Idiom VIZ Chose Not to Use
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何の未練もなくお前たちを刻めるよ
“I'M SO IRRITATED THAT I CAN CUT YOU TO PIECES WITHOUT ANY REGRET!”
Not Yet Tempered: 未練 and the Attachment English Shrinks to 'Regret'
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急いで私達が見つかったら水の泡でしょ！！？
“HURRY! IF THEY FIND US, WE'RE GONERS!!”
Gone Like Foam on the Water: 水の泡 and the Impermanence English Trades for Plain Failure
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この戦いにどうしても水を差したきゃあっしらを殺して行きな！！
“IF YOU INSIST ON BUTTING INTO THIS FIGHT, YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH US!!”
The Cold Water English Already Owns: 水を差す and the Idiom VIZ Never Once Reaches For
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問答無用じゃあぁ！！
“SILENCE!!”
Dialogue Ruled Useless: 問答無用 and the Four-Character Verdict VIZ Cut to One Word
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私は“珠世”と申しますその子は〝愈史郎〟
“MY NAME IS TAMAYO. THIS BOY IS YUSHIRO.”
Saying It With a Bow: 申す・申し上げる and the Humble Verb English Reads as Plain "Say"
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無一郎の無は〝無能〟の〝無〟
“THE "MU" IN "MUICHIRO" IS "MOO"... LIKE A BIG DUMB COW.”
Twins Named Being and Nothing: 無一郎の無 and the Cow Pun That Can't Turn Infinite
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こんな夜は胸が高鳴るというか…
“NIGHTS LIKE THIS DO SOMETHING TO ME.”
A Bell in the Chest: 胸が高鳴る and the Heartbeat VIZ Turns Into a Shrug
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胸を張って生きろ
“STAND TALL AND BE PROUD.”
Puff Out Your Chest: 胸を張る and the Posture VIZ Only Translates Once
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武者震いだよ！
“I'M SHAKING WITH EAGERNESS FOR A REMATCH!”
The Warrior's Shiver: 武者震い and the Idiom VIZ Explained Instead of Translated
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とにかくこの蛇今…虫の居所が悪いせいで私達食べられたのよ
“THE SNAKE ATE US BECAUSE HE WAS PROVOKED.”
A Bad Address for the Body's Bug: 虫の居所が悪い and the Mood English Renames "Provoked"
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虫唾が走るぜェ
“IT'S PATHETIC.”
The Acid That Never Translates: 虫唾が走る and the Disgust English Keeps Relocating
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しかしそうなると私は一体どうなるのか…南無三…
“BUT IN THAT CASE... WHAT ABOUT ME? DAMN IT!”
The Monk Who Says "Damn It!": 南無三 and the One Prayer VIZ Chose to Translate
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ここに居ればこの国と共に奈落の底へ落ちてしまうのだ
“IF YOU STAY YOU'LL SIMPLY FALL TO THE GROUND WITH THIS COUNTRY.”
Hell, Borrowed by Ear: 奈落 and the Buddhist Abyss VIZ Turns Back Into Plain Ground
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情けは人のためならず
“THEY SAY THAT BY BEING COMPASSIONATE YOU'RE ONLY HELPING YOURSELF.”
The Proverb Half of Japan Misreads: 情けは人のためならず and the Explanation VIZ Printed in Its Place
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なんだってばよ！突き落としたのまだ根に持ってんのかぁ！？
“WHAT! ARE YOU STILL HOLDING IT AGAINST ME THAT I SHOVED YOU?!”
Where the Grudge Takes Root: 根に持つ and the Grip VIZ Reaches for Instead
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〝猫の手〟で自分の顔を傷つけねェための
“TO AVOID SCRATCHING HIS FACE WITH HIS "CAT CLAWS"... IT'S PROOF THAT HE HASN'T FORGOTTEN HOW TO KILL!!”
So Busy You'd Borrow a Cat's Paw: 猫の手 and the Proverb VIZ's "Cat Claws" Never Hints At
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この二枚舌の大嘘吐きめ
“THAT TWO-FACED LIAR!”
The Tongue That Speaks Twice: 二枚舌 and the Body Part VIZ Traded for a Face
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その名を口にしましたね呪いが発動する…
“YOU SAID HIS NAME, THUS TRIGGERING THE CURSE.”
Say His Name and Die: 呪い and the Whole Native Sorcery Lexicon English Flattens Into "Curse"
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…なるほど…やはりか、あのサクラとかいう奴が言った首のアザとは…この呪印のことだったのか
“JUST AS I THOUGHT... ...THE SPELL MARK ON HIS NECK THAT LITTLE SAKURA WAS BLATHERING ON ABOUT IS THE MARK OF THE CURSE HE WAS PLACED UNDER...”
One Seal, Two Curses: 呪印 and the Sorcery Lexicon VIZ Squeezes Into "Curse Mark"
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三代鬼徹の呪い…
“...VERSUS THIS SWORD'S CURSE.”
Betting an Arm on a Cursed Blade: 呪い and the Curse Word English Already Owned
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おいどんも！！
“AND ME!!”
One Bubble, One Prefecture: おいどん and the Satsuma 'I' VIZ Flattens Into Plain 'AND ME'
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おいらを弟子にしてくだせぇ！！
“PLEASE, MAKE ME YOUR APPRENTICE!!”
A Trainful of Country Boys: おいら and the Rustic 'I' VIZ Smooths Into Plain 'Me'
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往生際の悪い事だ…まだわからんのか
“WHAT SORE LOSERS. DON'T YOU GET IT YET?”
When "Give Up" Means "Die Gracefully": 往生際が悪い and the Buddhist Death Buried in a Villain's Taunt
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この世を恨んで呪いながら死んだ姉さんの怨念をこの世に存在させ…残し…知らしめるため…！
“...A REMINDER OF HER HATRED, OF HOW SHE WENT TO HER DEATH LOATHING AND CURSING THE WORLD... REMIND THEM... AND SHOW THEM ALL...!”
The Grudge That Refuses to Die: 怨念 and the Vengeful-Spirit Charge VIZ Boils Down to "Hatred"
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おのれ麦わら！！！
“BLAST YOU, STRAW HAT!!!”
Self, You, and a Curse: おのれ and the One Word English Splits Three Ways
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トトと言ったな…おぬし…
“YOUR NAME IS TOH-TOH.”
An Old-Fashioned "You": おぬし and the Archaic Register That Dissolves Into Plain "You"
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たまたまオレがお前たちへの大切な伝令役を仰せつかったワケだ
“IT WAS JUST GOOD LUCK THAT I GOT TO BE THE MESSENGER FOR THE THREE OF YOU.”
It Wasn't Luck: 仰せつかる and the Command From Above English Turns Into Coincidence
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恐れ入ります！！
“THANK YOU!”
Shrinking Into Awe: 恐れ入る and the Humble Verb English Splits Four Ways
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男気を持ち合わせとる女はそうおらぬからな……
“SO FEW WOMEN POSSESS SUCH STRONG SPIRIT...”
A Man's Spirit, a Dying Woman's Praise: 男気 and the Gender "Strong Spirit" Quietly Removes
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てめェらは少々やりすぎた…！！往生しろよ！！
“YOU WENT TOO FAR!! NOW REST IN PIECES!!”
Telling the Dead to Move Along: 往生しろ・成仏してください and the Tombstone Pun VIZ Reached For
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往生しやがれド腐れ野郎！！
“DIE, YOU ROTTEN BASTARD!!”
Temple Word, Gutter Grammar: 往生しやがれ and the Buddhist Send-Off VIZ Flattened to "Die"
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姉ちゃんは輪廻転生って信じるかよ
“DO YOU BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION?”
Ask Onee-chan, Not the Room: 輪廻転生 and the Sibling Address VIZ Erased
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三途の川を渡りかける
“...BEGAN TO CROSS THE RIVER TO THE AFTERLIFE.”
Not Japan's Styx: 三途の川 and the Three Crossings English Rounds Down to One
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嬲り殺して差し上げますお望みのままに．．．！！
“I'LL KILL HER SLOWLY AND THEN LAY THE PROOF AT YOUR FEET!”
A Torture-Killing, Gift-Wrapped in Keigo: 差し上げる and the Humble "Give" English Can't Make Sinister
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正々堂々
“IT WAS A BOLD...”
A Dying Demon's Highest Compliment: 正々堂々 and the "Fair and Square" VIZ Never Actually Prints
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正々堂々…勝負！！
“LET'S DO THIS... FAIR AND SQUARE!”
Two Old Friends, One Doubled Word: 正々堂々 and the Rare Case Where “Fair and Square” Really Fits
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介錯もつけずに
“THERE WAS NO SECOND!”
Borrow the Ritual, Translate the Mercy: 切腹・介錯 and the Duelist's Second English Sent Instead
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拙者をかわいいワンちゃんなんて呼ぶんじゃねエー！
“DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME "A CUTE LITTLE DOGGIE"!”
This Unworthy Mutt: 拙者 and the Samurai 'I' English Erases Every Time
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久しぶりの娑婆の空気じゃあゆーのにから…
“I'M TRYING TO ENJOY MY FIRST BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN A LONG TIME, HERE...”
From Sutra to Slammer: 娑婆 and the Ex-Con's First Breath VIZ Files Under Fresh Air
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私が四苦八苦してんのを楽しんでる……
“HE RUINS EVERYTHING... HE ENJOYS TORMENTING ME!”
Four Sufferings, Eight Sufferings: 四苦八苦 and the Buddhist Headcount VIZ Rounds Down to "Torment"
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やっと尻尾を出しやがったなコノヤロー！！
“HEY GUYS... YOU'RE SHOWING YOUR TAILS... JUST LIKE THE DIRTY, DOUBLE-CROSSING DEMON-CRITTERS YOU ARE!”
The Tail That Gives the Trickster Away: 尻尾を出す and the Kitsune's Tell VIZ Renders Almost Word-for-Word
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部下の尻ぬぐいも出来んで何が鬼人じゃ…
“YOU CAN'T EVEN CLEAN UP FOR YOUR MISERABLE SUBORDINATES. "DEMON"... YEAH RIGHT!”
Bottom-Wiping for the Demon of the Mist: 尻ぬぐい and the Crusty Old Sneer VIZ Traded for "Yeah Right!"
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ししししし！！
“HEE HEE HEE HEE!!”
The Laugh With a Recipe Inside It: シシシ and the Meat Pun VIZ Turns Into "Hee Hee"
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一か月間は各々更に精進し励むが良い
“EACH OF YOU MUST EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE HARD, LEARN SOME NEW TRICKS...”
The Discipline That Purifies: 精進 and the Sixth Perfection VIZ Reduces to "Practice Hard"
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こっからが正念場だ
“HERE'S WHERE THE FUN REALLY BEGINS.”
The Scene That Tests What You Are: 正念場 and the Grave Warning VIZ Turned Into Fun
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小生の獲物だぞ小生の縄張りで見つけた小生の獲物だ…
“IT'S MY PREY! IT'S MY PREY FOUND IN MY TERRITORY!”
This Insignificant Self's Prey: 小生 and the Bookish, Self-Effacing "I" English Reduces to Plain "MY"
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オレってばこんな修羅場はいくつもくぐり抜けて来たんだもんね…
“HERE I AM AGAIN... FACING THE WORST KIND OF ENEMY! TEACHERS DIDN'T CALL ME THE ALL-TIME DUNCE FOR NOTHING!”
The Dead-Last on the Asura's Battlefield: 修羅場 and the Veteran's Boast VIZ Flipped Into Present-Tense Panic
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それがしも深手だ！！この戦で死ぬだろう
“AND I AM DEEPLY WOUNDED!! I EXPECT I WILL DIE IN THIS BATTLE.”
Dying in Character: それがし and the Archaic Samurai 'I' English Flattens to Plain 'I'
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まあそんなものは戦う為の大義名分だとも言えるがな…
“THOUGH I SUPPOSE YOU COULD SAY THEY USE IT TO JUSTIFY THEIR GOING TO WAR...”
A Cause With a Rank Attached: 大義名分 and the Confucian Doctrine VIZ Flattens Into "Justify"
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カシ神様の祟りだー！！
“IT'S THE CURSE OF THE GREAT KASHIGAMI!!”
Blaming the God You Just Killed: 祟り and the Curse Word VIZ Already Spent on 呪い
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手も足も出まいこの…
“I'M INVULNERABLE!!”
You Can't Even Get a Hand Out: 手も足も出ない and the Body-Idiom English Keeps Rewording
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ワシでも手に負えねーからのォ
“...EVEN I CAN'T HANDLE HIM!”
Too Heavy to Carry: 手に負えない and the Hands English Quietly Drops
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この力に手を染めちまったら最後…オレがどうなるかすら分からねェ…でも…
“ONCE I UNLEASH THIS POWER... I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN TO ME, BUT...”
Dyed, Not Dirtied: 手を染める and the Hands English Gets Backward
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解毒薬を調合されて手を焼いた
“...COMPOUNDED ANTIDOTES FOR THEM, AND MADE A FOOL OF ME.”
Too Hot to Hold: 手を焼く and the Burn English Never Felt
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手前勝手な頼みとは承知しておりますが何卒御容赦を
“I KNOW THIS IS A SELFISH REQUEST, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME.”
A Selfish Request, From Where I Stand: 手前勝手 and the Doubled Self VIZ Squeezes Into One Word
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ロロノア・ゾロ…てめェの評判はきいてたが、このおれを甘くみるなよ
“RORONOA ZOLO! PEASANTS AND PIRATES MAY TREMBLE AT YOUR NAME... BUT YOU'RE NO MATCH FOR THE GREAT ONE!”
Your Humble Servant, Turned Into a Slur: てめェ and the Register English Flattens Into "YOU"
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私には何の天罰も下っていない
“...HEAVEN HAS NEVER PUNISHED ME.”
Nobody Up There to Punish Him: 天罰 and the Impersonal Heaven English Keeps Personifying
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…フン！灯台下暗しとはこのことだな
“...EVER HEARD THE OLD SAYING ABOUT IT BEING DARKEST AT THE BASE OF THE BRIGHTEST LIGHTHOUSE?”
The Blind Spot at Your Feet: 灯台下暗し and the Lighthouse That Wandered Into VIZ's Proverb
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腕が鳴るだろ……
“HE MEANS HE'S HUNGRY FOR BATTLE.”
A Footnote in the Speech Bubble: 腕が鳴る and the Idiom VIZ Explained Instead of Translated
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猫背で揉み手をしながら俺の機嫌を常に伺い…全身全霊でへつらうのだ。
“FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU MUST PLEASE ME! BOW AND SCRAPE AND AVERT YOUR EYES! YOU TOADIES ARE MINE, BODY AND SOUL!”
The Humble Verb for Watching: 伺う and the Mood-Check VIZ Turns Into Averted Eyes
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…るっせーよ…ウスラトンカチ
“SHUT UP... YOU BUFFOON.”
Sasuke's One Term of Endearment: うすらとんかち and the Insult VIZ Couldn't Pin Down
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生殺与奪の権を他人に握らせるな！！
“NEVER LEAVE YOURSELF SO DEFENSELESS IN FRONT OF AN ENEMY!”
VIZ Translation Watch #2: 生殺与奪の権 Becomes "Never Leave Yourself So Defenseless" — and Four More Shifts We Verified by Hand
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オカマ拳法…！！
“OH COME MY WAY KARATE!!”
VIZ Translation Watch #1: オカマ拳法 Becomes "Oh Come My Way Karate" — and Four More Shifts We Verified by Hand
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吾輩は訓練を受けているとはいえただの鴉
“I HAVE SOME TRAINING... BUT I'M JUST A CROW.”
The Pronoun of a Famous Cat: 吾輩 and the Grandiose 'I' VIZ Flattens Into Plain 'I' — or Nothing at All
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儂ももう長くはない
“I DON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER.”
One Pronoun, Every Old Man: 儂・わし and the Elder "I" English Flattens Into Plain "I"
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わしゃちょうどへビ革の財布が欲しゅーてのォ…
“I'VE ALWAYS WANTED A SNAKESKIN WALLET...”
Old Man, Old Toad, Old God: わし and the Elder 'I' Every VIZ Line Calls Just 'I'
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わしの町はわしが守る！！
“IT'S MY TOWN AND I'LL PROTECT IT!”
My Town, My Fight: わし and the Old Man's 'I' English Flattens to Plain 'I'
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５：油断大敵！！
“number 5: Pride Goeth Before a Fall”
The Chapter Title That Became a Bible Verse: 油断大敵 and the Proverb VIZ Swapped In
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猫背で揉み手をしながら俺の機嫌を常に伺い…全身全霊でへつらうのだ。
“FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU MUST PLEASE ME! BOW AND SCRAPE AND AVERT YOUR EYES! YOU TOADIES ARE MINE, BODY AND SOUL!”
A Rare Perfect Match: 全身全霊 and the Body-and-Soul Idiom VIZ Quietly Rewires
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そいつかいお前の雇った賞金稼ぎってのは…ロロノア・ゾロじゃなさそうだねェ
“IS THAT THE BOUNTY HUNTER YOU HIRED? WELL, HE CERTAINLY ISN'T RORONOA ZOLO...”
Zolo vs. Zoro: The Complete History of VIZ's Most Contested Name
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．．．．．．どどなたか存じませんが．．．．．．水を
“I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE...”
I Humbly Don't Know: 存じる and the Kenjōgo Verb English Can't Conjugate
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図に乗るな！！
“YOU'RE GETTING OVER-CONFIDENT!”
Riding Your Own Hype: 図に乗る and the Nine Faces English Gives to Getting Cocky
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図星じゃねェかよ
“BULL'S-EYE.”
Dead Center for Once: 図星 and the Archery Metaphor VIZ Actually Kept
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親父は図体がでかい上にろくでもなかった
“MY FATHER WAS BIG BUT GOOD-FOR-NOTHING.”
Big for Nothing: 図体 and the Sneer VIZ Translates Into a Simple Fact
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ったく成長したのはその図体だけかァ！？見ちゃられねーのォ！！
“SHEESH! IS THAT HULKING BULK OF YOURS THE ONLY THING THAT'S MATURED?! I COULDN'T JUST KEEP WATCHING!”
All That Grew Was the Bulk: 図体 and the One VIZ Line That Kept the Sneer
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あァあの時の大猿達にゃ笑ったよ！！あの図体で
“THOSE MONKEYS WERE SO FUNNY! WITH THOSE COMICAL BODIES AND...”
Comical Bodies, Vanished Contempt: 図体 and the Punch Line VIZ Chose Instead of the Sneer