A
AKB - shortform of "AKB48" often used by members, MCs and narrators
AKB Nemousu TV (AKB４８ ネ申 テレビ)
AKB48
AKBINGO! - note the exclamation mark.
Anime - Any type of animated show produced or originating from Japan.
B
Bento (see Obentou)
C
CG- Widely used abbreviation for "Computer Graphics" or "Computer Generated". However, in reference to Watanabe Mayu, the term CG (in "computer generated") can be applied to how she looks, but it is "Cyborg Girl" when it comes to her mannerisms.
D
Danso （男装） - Male attire. Leave untranslated only when used in crossdressing.
DANSO Koshien （男装 甲子園） - Danso = male attire. Koshien is a district in Japan that is home to the Koshien Stadium that hosts the Japan National High School Baseball Tournament.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koshien_Stadium
Danso Koshien is a segment in AKBINGO! that pits members' crossdressing against each other to determine who is the best out of the lot (usually best of 4).
DiVA - AKB48 sub-unit comprising of Akimoto Sayaka, Masuda Yuka, Miyazawa Sae and Umeda Ayaka (Note the lowercase "i")
E
F
French Kiss - AKB48 sub-unit comprising of Kashiwagi Yuki, Kuramochi Asuka and Takajo Aki
G
Gundam - A type of science fiction pilotable robot in "anime".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam
H
I
Idol - In Japan, an "idol" is a young female media personality.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_idol
Itadakimasu (いただきます) - lit. "I shall partake of this" In Japan, they say this as thanks for the food placed before them before eating.
J
Janken (じゃん拳) - Rock Paper Scissors. In Japanese, the moves are designated as "Guu" (グー), "Paa" (パー)、and" Choki" (チョキ) for Rock, Paper and Scissors respectively.
K
Karaoke (カラオケ) - lit. "Empty Orchestra". Originates from two words in Japanese: Kara (空), meaning empty (the same kanji as sky, and the same "kara" of karate, 空手), and "oke" オケ, which is short for orchestra.
Kouhai (後輩) - Denotes a person in a junior status to an elder (see Senpai / Sempai 先輩). In Japan, it's contextually used in the work or school setting.
-kun - Suffix added to the end of names to more politely address others. Most of the time used with male names, but has been used on occasion in anime disambiguously with female names.
L
M
Manga - Japanese comics.
Muchaburi Dodgeball (ムチャブリ ドッジボール) - Muchaburi - Unpleasant / unreasonable / ridiculous challenge or task. Muchaburi dodgeball is a well known segment on AKBINGO where in addition to the normal rules of dodgeball, the member who gets hit (out) will have to perform something really unreasonable or ridiculous. If "muchaburi" is used on it's own, translate it as one of "unreasonable task", "ridiculous challenge" or "unpleasant task"
N
Naruhodo High School (なるほど ハイスクール)
NMB48
NG - pronounced by saying the letters "N" and "G" by themselves. Short for "Not Good", usually in reference to filming and a scene not being up to scratch due to bloopers or the myriad of possible filming technical mistakes. Can also be used to generally describe something that shouldn't be said / seen.
No3b (ノースリーブス) - Wasei-Eigo for "sleeveless" clothing. Pronounced as "No Sleeves" AKB48 Sub-unit comprising of Kojima Haruna, Takahashi Minami and Minegishi Minami. (Note the way it is written.)
Not yet - AKB48 sub-unit comprising of Oshima Yuko, Yokoyama Yui, Kitahara Rie and Sashihara Rino. (Note the the lowercase "y" in "yet")
O
Obentou (お弁当） - A Japanese packed lunchbox. Many varieties exist not only in what's in the box (ie, rice with side dishes, etc) but also the style of the box (multi-tiered, multi-sectioned, or a combination of both) and the decorative exterior of said boxes. (When subbing, use "bento")
Omamori (御守り）- Japanese protection amulets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omamori
Otaku (オタク)- Used to describe any person who is very knowledgeable and absorbed into his/her hobby. However, they are usually referring to a geek who loves "anime".
Oshimen (推しメン) - "Oshi" means "to support", the "men" comes from the "mem" in "member"(menbaa or メンバー). The term is used to define which member(s) you support in AKB48 and its related groups.
P
Purikura (プリクラ) - A kind of photo taken in the photo booth. These photos can vary in styles that are available on individual units, and more often than not are traded among friends and have an adhesive backing to stick on personal items. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_booth
Q
R
S
-san -Suffix added to names as a way to more politely address others. Can be used for either gender, but has a more "feminine" connotation.
-sama -Suffix added to names as a way to more politely address others. Applicable to either gender, English equivalent would be a "Mr.", or "Mrs."
Senbatsu (選抜) - Selection. Used in conjunction with "sousenkyo 総選挙" meaning " General Election". In AKB48 and its sister groups this is the means to select the top 21 members for a single release.
Senpai / Sempai (先輩) - Denotes seniority in relation to others. Contextually used in Japan in a school or workplace setting. Note that while "sempai" is a commonly accepted romanization and pronounced as such, the actual romanization is "senpai".
(-)Sensei (先生) - Teacher, doctor. Used as an honorific with names. eg Yamaguchi-sensei
SD - If used to describe Takahashi Minami, then it means "Super Deformed".
Seiyuu (声優） - Japanese voice actress. Note the 2 "u".
Shoujiki Shogi (正直将棋）- Shoujiki = honest. Shogi is a Japanese boardgame similar to chess.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogi
Shuukan AKB (週刊AKB) - note the two "u".
SKE48
Suberi - slip/fail. Leave untranslated only if used to describe Takahashi Minami.
T
Tsundere (ツンデレ) - Colloquial term describing someone who is sharp and (or) sarcastic on the surface (tsun tsun - ツンツン) but lovestruck and fawning underneath (dere dere - デレデレ). Usually characteristic of a gap between actual behaviour and thought / feelings in mind
U
V
W
Watarirouka Hashiritai (7) (渡り廊下走り隊) - lit "Corridor Running Team", AKB48 sub-unit comprising originally of Watanabe Mayu, Ota Aika, Nakagawa Haruka, Hirajima Natsumi and Kikuchi Ayaka. The sub-unit became known as Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 with the addition of Komori Mika and Iwasa Misaki with the subsequent the release of "Valentine Kiss".
Wota (ヲタ） - Technically a shortform of "otaku" but fans of "idols" spell it this way to differentiate themselves from "anime otaku".
X
Y
Yankee - Gangster or delinquent, often part of a motorcycle gang.
Yoroshiku （宜しく、 よろしく）- Shortform of "yoroshiku onegaishimasu".
YOROSHIKU (夜蕗死苦）- Same meaning as "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" but this particular form is used by yankees.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (宜しくお願いします） - A Japanese greeting which has different meanings depending on the situation it is used in. Common meanings include: "Nice to meet you", "I'm in your care", and "Please take care of it/her/him".
Z
Glossary last edited on 5th September 2011 12:45pm GMT+5
