What does kitsune mean in Japanese? Learn the difference between an ordinary fox and a supernatural kitsune, its connection to Inari, kitsune udon and sushi, fox mask and tattoo meanings, nine-tailed foxes, and anime usage.
What does tengu mean in Japanese? Learn why 天狗 literally means “heavenly dog,” the difference between daitengu and karasu-tengu, the meaning of tengu masks and long noses, mountain and yamabushi connections, Japanese idioms, and anime usage.
Learn what osu means in karate and Japanese, why martial artists say osu, how 押忍 is written and pronounced, its possible origins, when to use it, and why usage differs by dojo.
What does yokai mean in Japanese? Learn the meaning of 妖怪, how to pronounce it, major yokai types, the difference between yokai, ghosts, oni, and kami, and how yokai appear in anime.
What does oni mean in Japanese? Learn why 鬼 is translated as demon or ogre, what oni look like, the meaning of oni masks, the difference between oni, yokai, akuma, and hannya, plus anime examples.
Learn the meaning of bushido (武士道), its kanji and pronunciation, the popular bushido code and virtues, its real history, and how the term is used in anime and modern culture.
Learn what rōnin (浪人) means in Japanese, how a samurai became masterless, what life was like for ronin, the modern student meaning, and the true history behind the 47 Ronin.
Learn the difference between seppuku and harakiri, what both Japanese words mean, their kanji and pronunciation, historical context, modern usage, and common misconceptions.
Learn what omedetou and omedetou gozaimasu mean, how to say happy birthday in Japanese, why “omedetou tanjoubi” has the wrong word order, and how to congratulate people naturally.
Learn what shiawase means in Japanese, how to write 幸せ, where the word comes from, and how it differs from ureshii, tanoshii, koufuku, and saiwai, with natural examples.