Category: Japanese Slang

1. Quick Definition (TL;DR)

• Kanji/Kana: ビッチ
• Romaji: Bicchi
• English Meaning: Slut / Promiscuous woman (Note: This is a “False Friend” word!)
• Pronunciation Guide: Bee-chee

2. Deep Dive: The “Otaku” Nuance

This is perhaps the most dangerous “False Friend” in the Japanese language for English speakers. In English, calling someone a “bitch” usually refers to their personality—meaning they are rude, mean, or bossy.

However, in Japanese Otaku culture and general slang, “Bicchi” (ビッチ) refers 100% to a woman’s sexual reputation. It is synonymous with “slut” or “easy woman.”

In anime, this word is often thrown around to describe characters who dress provocatively, act flirtatiously, or have a “femme fatale” vibe. It doesn’t necessarily mean the character is actually mean; in fact, many “Bitch” characters in anime are actually quite kind or professional, but they are labeled based on their appearance or seductive tactics.

The Trap: If you use this word in Japan thinking you’re calling someone “mean” or “rude,” you are actually committing a massive character assassination by calling them sexually promiscuous.

3. Typical Situations in Anime

• The “Bitch-sensei” Trope: The most famous example is Irina Jelavić from Assassination Classroom. The students call her “Bitch-sensei” (a play on her last name “Jelavić” sounding like “Bicchi”). While it’s used as a joke, it highlights her role as a seductive assassin who uses her looks to get her way.
• High School Rumors: You will often see a group of jealous background characters whispering “Bicchi” when a popular or attractive girl (often a Gyaru) talks to the male protagonist.
• The Villainess/Femme Fatale: A female antagonist who uses her sexuality as a weapon is almost guaranteed to be called this by the hero or other rivals during a confrontation.

4. Real Life vs. Anime (Can I use this?)

• Safety Rating: DANGEROUS / TABOO
• Warning: Do NOT use this word in real life. In the West, “bitch” can sometimes be used ironically or even as a term of endearment among friends (“Hey bitch!”). In Japan, there is no “friendly” version of this word.

It is a top-tier insult. If you use it toward a teacher, a stranger, or even a friend, it is seen as a disgusting sexual slur. If you want to say someone is “mean,” use words like ijime (bully) or saitei (the worst), but stay far away from Bicchi.

5. Related Terms

• Yariman (ヤリマン): An extremely vulgar, bottom-tier slang term for a promiscuous woman. Much more offensive than “Bicchi.”
• Saitei (最低): Literally “the lowest.” This is what you should use if you want to say “You’re the worst!” or “You’re a bitch (personality-wise)!”
• Akujo (悪女): Literally “Evil Woman.” Refers to a “femme fatale” type who manipulates men.
• Mesu-buta (雌豚): “Sow” or “Female pig.” A highly derogatory term used in verbal abuse or specific “extreme” anime contexts.

Summary

In the world of anime, “Bicchi” has nothing to do with being rude and everything to do with being “easy”—making it one of the most misunderstood and dangerous loanwords for English-speaking fans.

1. Quick Definition (TL;DR)

• Kanji/Kana: やる (Sometimes 殺る for “kill” or 遣る for “give/send”)
• Romaji: Yaru
• English Meaning:
  1. To do / To perform (Casual)
  2. To give (to a pet, plant, or someone lower in status)
  3. To kill / To defeat / To wreck (Slang)
  4. To have sex (Slang)
• Pronunciation Guide: “Yah-roo” (Rhymes with “kangaroo”)

2. Deep Dive: The “Otaku” Nuance

Welcome to one of the biggest linguistic minefields in the Japanese language! Yaru is the ultimate chameleon word in anime. Depending on the scene, the music, and who is speaking, this single word can shift from a mundane task to a declaration of murder, or even a dirty joke.

In standard dictionaries, Yaru is just a more casual, rougher version of Suru (to do). But in Anime logic, it carries a much heavier punch.

When a Shonen protagonist screams “Ore ga yaru!” (俺がやる), he isn’t just saying “I will perform this administrative task.” He is saying, “I’ll handle this,” “I’ll take him down,” or “I’ll finish this fight.” It implies action, force, and resolve.

However, you have to be extremely careful. Because it implies a raw physical action, Yaru is also the standard slang for “sleeping with someone.” If you use this word wrong in a slice-of-life anime (or real life), you might accidentally tell your friends you slept with your teacher instead of saying you did a favor for them!

3. Typical Situations in Anime

1. The Heroic Sacrifice / Stepping Up

• Context: The party is injured, the villain is approaching, and the protagonist steps forward.
• Line: “Koko wa ore ga yaru!” (ここは俺がやる!)
• Meaning: “I’ll handle this part / I’ll take care of this guy!”

2. The Villain’s Threat

• Context: A thug or antagonist is about to attack someone. In subtitles, you might see “I’ll kill you,” but the audio is actually saying Yaru.
• Line: “Aitsu wo yatte yaru…” (あいつをやってやる…)
• Meaning: “I’m gonna wreck that guy / I’m gonna kill him.”
• Note: Sometimes in manga, the author will write the Kanji 殺る (kill) but put the reading “yaru” next to it to emphasize the violence.

3. The Misunderstanding / Locker Room Talk

• Context: High school friends gossiping about a couple.
• Line: “Omae, kanojo to yatta no?” (お前、彼女とやったの？)
• Meaning: “Did you do it with her?” (Did you have sex?)

4. Real Life vs. Anime (Can I use this?)

• Safety Rating: TRAP / DANGEROUS ⚠️

Listen to your Senpai closely: Be very careful with this word.

1. “To Give”: Never use Yaru when giving a gift to a person (unless you want to sound incredibly arrogant). Yaru is used for watering plants or feeding dogs. If you say “I gave (yaru) my friend a present,” you are grammatically treating your friend like a pet.
2. “To Do”: It is safe to use as “to do” in very casual situations (e.g., “Shukudai yatta?” – Did you do homework?), but it sounds rough and masculine.
3. The “Sex” Risk: If you say “I did [person]” (Ano hito wo yatta), you are saying you either beat them up or slept with them. There is no middle ground.

Senpai’s Advice: Stick to Suru (to do) and Agemasu (to give). Leave Yaru for the anime characters or until your Japanese is fluent enough to read the room perfectly.

5. Related Terms

• Suru (する): The standard, safe word for “To do.” Use this instead!
• Ageru (あげる): The standard, polite word for “To give” (to equals or superiors).
• Korosu (殺す): The literal word for “To kill.” Yaru is often a slang replacement for this.
• Yarichin (ヤリチン): A derogatory slang term for a “player” or a guy who sleeps around (derived from Yaru + Chin).

Summary

Yaru is a high-stakes verb that can mean “heroic resolve,” “violent murder,” or “getting lucky,” so pay close attention to the context before you try to use it yourself!

1. Quick Definition (TL;DR)

• Kanji/Kana: チー牛 (Short for チーズ牛丼 – Cheese Gyuudon)
• Romaji: Chii-gyuu
• English Meaning: Literally “Cheese Beef Bowl.” Slang for a specific stereotype of an uncool, gloomy, bespectacled otaku/gamer.
• Pronunciation Guide: “Chee – Gyoo” (Rhymes with “Key – You”)

2. Deep Dive: The “Otaku” Nuance

If you are ordering food at Sukiya, Chii-gyuu just means a delicious beef bowl topped with cheese. But on the Japanese internet (and increasingly in anime culture), it is a sick burn.

The term comes from a viral illustration posted on a Japanese imageboard (2ch/5ch) of a young man with a very specific, unassuming face—glasses, black hair, simple features—ordering a “Three-color Cheese Gyuudon with a poached egg.”

The internet collectively decided, “Hey, a lot of obsessively nerdy, socially awkward guys look exactly like this drawing.”

In the Otaku lexicon, calling someone a Chii-gyuu is basically calling them a “stereotype beta male” or a “gloomy loser.” It implies they have zero fashion sense, are socially inept, and probably spend all their time playing games or obsessing over idols. It is the visual profile of the “background NPC” otaku.

3. Typical Situations in Anime

While “Chii-gyuu” is primarily internet slang, it has started bleeding into media that focuses on net culture.

1. The “Pre-Isekai” Protagonist:
   While the term might not be explicitly spoken in the script, the visual design of a “Chii-gyuu” is often used for the main character of an Isekai before he gets reincarnated (think Mushoku Tensei‘s Rudeus in his past life). It establishes him as a social outcast.
2. Internet/Streaming Culture Anime:
   In anime that focus on VTubers, streamers, or message boards, you might see comments scrolling on a screen calling a character “Chii-gyuu” to mock them for acting cringey or desperate.
3. Self-Deprecation:
   A hardcore gamer character might sigh and refer to themselves as having a “Chii-gyuu face,” acknowledging that they fit the “gloomy nerd” stereotype and have given up on trying to look like a “normie.”

4. Real Life vs. Anime (Can I use this?)

• Safety Rating: Rude / Internet Slang

Be very careful. This is not a compliment.

If you go to a Japanese beef bowl chain (like Sukiya) and order a Cheese Gyuudon because you actually like the taste, that is totally fine! The food is popular.

However, do not call a Japanese person a “Chii-gyuu.” It is a derogatory term attacking their physical appearance and social status. It’s equivalent to calling someone a “neckbeard” or “loser” in English. While some Otaku have reclaimed the word to poke fun at themselves, using it on a stranger is a quick way to start a fight or hurt feelings.

5. Related Terms

• Inkyara (陰キャ): Short for “Inki Character.” Meaning a gloomy, antisocial person. (The mild version of Chii-gyuu).
• Riajuu (リア充): The mortal enemy of the Chii-gyuu. Someone who has a fulfilling “Real Life” (a normie with a girlfriend/boyfriend).
• Otaku (オタク): The general term for a geek/fan, but “Chii-gyuu” specifies the negative visual stereotype of an Otaku.
• Mousou (妄想): Delusion. Chii-gyuu characters are often teased for having mousou about dating idols.

Summary

“Chii-gyuu” started as a lunch order but evolved into a harsh slang term for the stereotypical, glasses-wearing, socially awkward Otaku male.

1. Quick Definition (TL;DR)

• Kanji: 変態 (へんたい)
• Romaji: Hentai
• English Meaning: Pervert (Most common), Metamorphosis (Biological), Abnormal/Freak (Nuance)
• Pronunciation Guide: “Hen-tah-ee” (Don’t rhyme it with “Bow-tie,” pronounce the ‘i’ clearly!)

2. Deep Dive: The “Otaku” Nuance

Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room. If you’ve spent five minutes on the internet, you probably think Hentai just means “adult anime.” While that is the loanword meaning adopted by the West, the Japanese definition is much broader and surprisingly deep.

Literally, the Kanji break down into Change (変) and State/Form (態). In a scientific context, it refers to metamorphosis—like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

But here is the advanced Otaku nuance that most dictionaries miss: Hentai is often used to describe someone with skills, abilities, or obsessions that are so high level, they deviate from the norm.

In the gaming and anime community, calling someone a Hentai can actually be a twisted form of respect or awe. It means their technique is so flawless, their knowledge so deep, or their movements so precise that they are no longer “normal” humans. They are “abnormal” (Hentai) in the best, most terrifying way possible. It’s the Japanese equivalent of calling a pro gamer a “beast,” a “freak of nature,” or “sick.”

3. Typical Situations in Anime

Here is how you will hear it used, ranging from the classic to the “Respectful Hentai”:

1. The “God-Tier” Skill (Respect/Awe)
You often hear this in sports anime or gamer situations. If a character pulls off a miraculous play that defies physics or human reaction time, a rival might whisper, “Aitsu wa hentai da…” (That guy is a freak…).

• Vibe: Fear mixed with admiration. They aren’t calling him a pervert; they are acknowledging that his power level is grotesque.

2. The “Mad Scientist” / Obsessive Genius
Characters who are obsessed with their research (robots, magic, bugs) to the point where they ignore social norms are often labeled Hentai.

• Example: A mechanic who loves Gundams so much they sleep in the cockpit. Their passion has crossed the line into “abnormality.”

3. The Classic “Pervert” (Comedy)
Of course, we can’t ignore the most common usage. A female character screams this when the protagonist accidentally trips and falls into her.

• Classic Line: “Hentai! Saiaku!” (Pervert! You’re the worst!)

4. Real Life vs. Anime (Can I use this?)

• Safety Rating: HIGH RISK (Handle with extreme care)

Stop! Do not go around calling people Hentai unless you are 1000% sure of the context.

If you say this to a stranger, a teacher, or a boss, you are calling them a sexual pervert. You will get slapped or reported to HR.

When is it “Safe”?
It is only “safe” (and funny) in very specific close-knit communities, like among close gamer friends or hobbyists. If your friend completes a “No-Hit run” of Elden Ring using a dance pad controller, you can jokingly say, “Wow, you really are a Hentai (compliment).” It implies their skill is disgusting (in a good way).

5. Related Terms

• Henshin (変身): “Transformation.” Used for Power Rangers or Kamen Rider changing forms. (Contrast with Hentai, which is biological change).
• Bakemono (化け物): “Monster.” Similar to the “Skill Hentai” nuance—used to describe someone whose strength is scary.
• Shinshi (紳士): “Gentleman.” In internet slang, this is ironically used to describe a “proud pervert” who is open and honest about their desires.
• Ecchi (エッチ): “Lewd” or “Sexy.” This is lighter and less extreme than Hentai.

Summary

While the world knows it as a genre, Hentai truly represents an “abnormal state”—whether that’s being a pervert, a butterfly, or a gamer with god-like skills that command fear and respect.

1. Quick Definition (TL;DR)

• Kanji/Kana: ぴ
• Romaji: Pi
• English Meaning: Boyfriend, Crush, Favorite Person
• Pronunciation Guide: “Pee” (Short and sharp, like the letter P)

2. Deep Dive: The “Otaku” Nuance

If you’re watching a high school romance or a show featuring trendy Gyaru characters, you might hear them refer to someone simply as “Pi” (ぴ). It sounds like a sound effect, but it’s actually deep JK (High School Girl) slang.

Here is the evolution logic:

1. Kareshi (彼氏): The standard Japanese word for “Boyfriend.”
2. Kare-pi (かれぴ): A “baby-talk” or cutesy version of Kareshi. The “Shi” is replaced with “Pi” because the “P” sound is considered cuter and more bubbly in Japanese sound symbolism.
3. Pi (ぴ): Eventually, the word got shortened even further.

Just as the Shi (氏) in Kareshi acts as a suffix for a person, the Pi has taken on a life of its own to mean “The person I like.”

In anime, using Pi doesn’t just mean you have a boyfriend; it signals that the character is trendy, young, and uses affectionate, slightly possessive slang. It removes the seriousness of a relationship and makes it sound lighthearted and playful.

3. Typical Situations in Anime

1. The Gyaru Girl Talk
You’ll often hear this in “Slice of Life” or Romance anime when a group of stylish girls are gossiping in a classroom or cafe.

• Character: “My Pi hasn’t texted me back all day!” (Pi ga zenzen henshin kurenai!)
• Context: She is referring to her actual boyfriend, but using the slang to sound cute and casual.

2. The “Suki-pi” Variant (The Crush)
Before they are dating, a character might refer to their crush as their Suki-pi (Suki = Like + Pi).

• Character: “Look! It’s my Suki-pi!”
• Context: Used when the character spots their crush walking down the hallway. It’s less heavy than saying “The person I love.”

3. Idol Otaku Culture (Oshi-pi)
Sometimes used by Otaku characters (especially female fans) to refer to their favorite idol or character.

• Character: “My Oshi-pi looks so good in this magazine!”
• Context: Combining Oshi (Push/Fave) with Pi to create an ultra-affectionate nickname for the celebrity they stan.

4. Real Life vs. Anime (Can I use this?)

• Safety Rating: Cringe / Gen Z Only

Be very careful. This is highly specific generational slang.

1. Gender: It is almost exclusively used by young women (teens to early 20s). If a grown man uses it, it will sound extremely weird.
2. Setting: It is casual text-speak or close-friend slang. Never use this to introduce your partner to your parents, boss, or teacher.
3. Vibe: If you use this as a foreigner, you might get a laugh for knowing such niche slang, but you also risk sounding like you are trying too hard to be a Japanese teenager.

Verdict: Enjoy it in anime, but stick to Kareshi or Kanojo in real life unless you are texting a very close Japanese friend jokingly.

5. Related Terms

• Karepi (かれぴ): The origin word. Cutesy slang for Boyfriend.
• Sukipi (好きぴ): A crush; someone you like (Suki + Pi).
• Oshi (推し): Your favorite character or idol (can become Oshi-pi).
• Riajuu (リア充): Someone who has a fulfilling real life (usually meaning they have a boyfriend/girlfriend).

Summary

Pi is the ultimate cutesy shorthand for “My Person,” evolving from baby-talk slang to become a trendy label for a boyfriend or crush in modern anime.