Naruto · Translation notes
Japanese in Naruto
Every note whose example line comes from Naruto. The same Japanese turns up across series — the rails above cross all of them.
55 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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腰抜け…
“COWARD!”
Losing Your Hips: 腰抜け and the Spine English Grows in Its Place
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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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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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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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．．．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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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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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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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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…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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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…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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…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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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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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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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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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