Slayers FUSHIGI

vocabulary list and reference

Konnichiwa minna-san and welcome to Slayers FUSHIGI, a really long fanfiction venture that's probably the largest writing project I've undertaken since writin Martin Reborn three years ago.

Following a recent discussion on the FYFan mailing list (found at EGroups.com), I decided to put up a vocabulary list of the Japanese words that I have used in this fanfic. As for myself, I've never taken any formal courses; all the Japanese I've learned through a few 'field guide' type books and from reading manga and watching anime. I try to keep the Japanese to a minimum, but sometimes it seems (to me) to fit/sound a little better, or sometimes I put it in without realizing it. (It really does happen; if you happen to overhear my conversations with my anime friends, we sprinkle bits of Japanese everywhere, and it happens when I'm writing as well.) The list is arranged alphabetically, for the most part.

PLEASE remember that I have no formal Japanese training! If I put something here that you think is wrong, chances are, it is wrong! Please email me and inform me of my errors! That way I won't be confusing the heck out of others who know as much or less Japanese than I do! This isn't a study guide by a long shot! It's just to help readers of Slayers FUSHIGI.

Abunai: Danger, as in 'Look out!'

Aiyah (na no da): This one requires a bit more explanation. 'Aiyah' is a catch-all Chinese phrase meaning anything from a sigh or resignment or... well, if you've read the Joy Luck Club, you'll notice Aiyah in it's many shapes and forms. Since the world of the Shijintenchiso is similar to Ancient China, it felt appropriate, and since it's always Chichiri who says it, he adds 'no da' at the end.

Aniki: (Older) Brother.

Ano: A sort of general purpose word, meaning something like 'Excuse me'.

Arigatou (gozaimasu): 'Thank you.'

Baka: 'Dummy' or 'idiot'. An insult.

Byakko: The protecting god of Sailokoku, a white tiger.

-chan: Added to the end of names, indicates close friendship, but can be seen as patronizing/insulting between those who aren't close friends.

Chibi: Little. Associated with hyper, genki, and little kids.

Daijobu: 'Are you okay?'

Fuusatsu: 'Seal' and 'Kill'. The incantation used by the four gods in Manga 18 and for Slayers FUSHIGI, episode 36.

Genbu: The protecting god of Hokkankoku, a black tortoise/snake.

Genki: High spirited, energetic, hyper, and in some cases, on a sugar high.

Gomen (nasai): 'I'm sorry.'

Hai: 'Yes' as in an affirmative.

Halisen: A fan, Tasuki's is made of diamond and can spurt flame if the proper incantation is used. ^_~

Heika: 'My lord,' referring to someone like an emperor.

Hikari no Ken: Sword of Light, Gourry's famous sword which slew the great beast Zaniffer and combined with Lina's magic, Ruby-Eye Shaburanigdo.

Hontou (ni): 'Really?'

Itadakimasu: A word used before eating a meal, meaning something along the lines of 'thanks for the food'.

Itai: Ouch.

Ja ne: A good-bye meaning 'see you later.'

Kakkoi: Cool, neat. A positive word.

Kasa and Kesa: Hat and Cape, parts of Chichiri's ensemble. The kasa is his conical straw hat, the kesa his blue robe with the white swirled designs.

Kawaii: Cute.

Ki: Spiritual energy (chi).

-koku: Literally, country. The four countries of the Shijintenchiso are Hokkan(north), Konan(south), Kutou(east) and Sailo(west). Adding -koku would make them mean 'Hokkan Country' or 'Country of Konan', and this is the way Watase Yuu refers to them.

Kowaii: Scary. Not to be confused with kawaii.

K'so: A curse word.

-kun: Added to names, it is a form of respect, but used less formally than -san.

Lekka(Rekka) Shinen: The incantation Tasuki uses to make his tessen or halisen spurt flame. I forget, the meaning is something like 'heavenly divine flame'...? All you DTFC'ers correct me on this!

Matte (yo): 'Wait', as in 'wait up' or 'wait for me.'

Mazoku: Demon race. In Slayers, they range from small malignant beings to the extremely large and powerful 'Ruby Eye Shaburanigdo'. Generally not nice to mess with.

Miko: Shrine priestess, temple maiden. Takes on special meanings in Fushigi Yuugi. ^_^

Minna(-san): Everybody. (Think more along the lines of 'you guys.')

Nani: What? Or other phrase of query.

(Na) No da: A shortened form of 'non desu' (I believe, please correct me). It forms Chichiri's speech pattern as he ends many of his sentences with it. It has no special meaning in itself.

Neko: A cat.

Obake: Monster. See, Tamahome's symbol is 'oni' or ogre, so it's a natural route that leads to 'obake'...

Ohayo: 'Good morning.'

Okane: Money, something which Tamahome likes to obsess about.

Oneesama: Big Sister. (Note the -sama at the end. It's Lina's way of showing her respects to big scary Luna.)

-san, -sama: Added to the end of names, indicates respect. -sama is of higher formality than -san is, and can be translated as 'Mister' or 'Lady'.

Seiryuu: The protecting god of Kutoukoku, a blue dragon.

Shichi Seishi: literal kanji: 'seven star warrior/soldier/fighter'. Translated as 'Seven Celestial/Star Warriors/Fighters'. The guardians of the Miko. Note: I use the entire 'Shichi Seishi' as opposed to just 'Seishi' because Watase Yuu always refers to them as either 'shichisei' or 'shichiseishi'. Personal preference, I suppose.

Shijintenchiso: the kanji literally read as 'four god sky earth book', translated as 'The Four Gods' Sky and Earth' and as 'The Universe of the Four Gods'.

Shimatta: A curse word.

Shi né: 'Die.'

Shinzahou: The items used by the miko when summoning their god; during the summoning ceremony, these are endowed with special powers.

Sore wa himitsu desu: 'That is a secret.' (himitsu=secret) Every Slayers fan knows it's Xelloss' catch phrase.

Sugoi and Suteki: Words of general enthusiasm. 'Great' or 'awesome'.

Suzaku: The protecting god of Konankoku, a red phoenix.

Tasukete: 'Help!'

Tessen: An iron fan, Tasuki's can spurt flame if the right incantation is used. Upgraded to a halisen by Taiitsukun.

Wo Ai Ni: Mandarin for 'I love you.' (Hey, this does take place in ancient China.)

Yamete/Yameru: Stop, as in, 'stop what you're doing!'

Yatta: An exclamatory remark, meaning 'Alright!'

Yosh: An exclamatory remark, meaning more along the lines of 'Let's go!'

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