Japanese in manga
JLPT N1
Manga lines whose difficulty sits at N1, with what the official English had to give up to carry them.
81 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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…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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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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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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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