Otakulang – Words You Hear in Anime

What Does “～Desu wa” Mean in Anime? The Trap of the “Rich Girl” Ending

Written by

otakulang

in

, ,

1. Quick Definition (TL;DR)

  • Kanji/Kana: ～ですわ
  • Romaji: ~Desu wa
  • English Meaning: A polite sentence ender. Usually adds a tone of feminine refinement, emphasis, or… a distinct regional flavor.
  • Pronunciation Guide: “Dess-wah” (The ‘u’ in Desu is almost silent).

2. Deep Dive: The “Otaku” Nuance

In the anime dictionary, “~Desu wa” is the linguistic crown worn by the Ojou-sama (the rich, high-class lady archetype).

When a character ends her sentences with desu wa, it instantly signals:

  1. Status: She is wealthy, noble, or attends a prestigious girls’ academy.
  2. Grace: It adds a layer of feminine emphasis that is softer than a command but stronger than a plain statement.

However, there is a massive trap here.
While anime fans associate this strictly with drills-hair girls laughing “Ohohoho,” the usage is actually twofold:

  1. The “Ojou-sama” (Anime Trope): Used by characters to sound elegant. This can be the “Haughty Ojou-sama” (arrogant, rival character) OR the “Yamato Nadeshiko” (proper, gentle traditional Japanese beauty). It is not always rude; it can just be very proper.
  2. The “Kansai” Speaker (Realism): This is the “Otaku Trap.” In the Kansai dialect (Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe), “desu wa” is used by everyone—including middle-aged men. In Kansai, it functions as a polite but soft way to end a sentence, distinct from the standard feminine usage.

The “Text Trap”:
Because written Japanese doesn’t show intonation, a sentence like 「今日はいい天気ですわ」 (“The weather is nice today”) creates a Narrative Trick.

  • Reader A (Anime Brain): Imagines a cute girl in a frilly dress sipping tea.
  • Reader B (Reality): Imagines a 50-year-old taxi driver from Osaka chatting about the weather.
    This confusion recently went viral on X (Twitter), where users were tricked into thinking an “Ojou-sama” was posting, only to find out it was just a regular guy from Kansai!

3. Typical Situations in Anime

Where will you encounter this phrase?

  1. The Rival’s Entrance:
    The antagonist of a romance or school anime appears. She usually has “drill” ringlet hair.
    • Line: “This place is not suitable for commoners, desu wa!”
    • Vibe: High-class, slightly looking down on others, followed by an “Ohoho!” laugh.
  2. The Gentle Aristocrat:
    A character like Momo Yaoyorozu from My Hero Academia. She isn’t mean; she is just incredibly sheltered and rich.
    • Line: “I have prepared some tea, desu wa.”
    • Vibe: Nuturing, elegant, and polite.
  3. The Kansai Character (The Hidden User):
    Characters from the Kansai region (like Gin Ichimaru from Bleach or merchants) might use it in a polite setting.
    • Nuance: In anime, they often stick to distinct Kansai slang (like ya or hen), but in softer moments, desu wa slips in. The intonation here falls at the end, whereas the Ojou-sama intonation rises or stays flat.

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

  • Safety Rating: CAUTION (Context Heavy)

For the “Ojou-sama” style:

  • Status: Rare / Old-fashioned.
  • If you use this in Tokyo as a learner, you will sound like you are roleplaying a Victorian-era princess. It is very “strong” femininity. Most modern Japanese women use “Desu/Masu” or “Desu yo.”

For the “Kansai” style:

  • Status: Common / Natural.
  • If you are in Osaka and speaking politely, you will hear men and women say this. However, getting the intonation right is effectively impossible for beginners. If you mess it up, you just sound like an anime character.

Verdict: Unless you are fluent in Kansai-ben, avoid it. Stick to “Desu.”

5. Related Terms

  • Ojou-sama (お嬢様): “Young Lady” or “Rich Girl.” The character archetype that owns this phrase.
  • Gokigen’you (ごきげんよう): “Good day/Farewell.” The standard greeting for characters who use ~desu wa.
  • Kansai-ben (関西弁): The dialect of the Osaka region. The confusing cousin of Ojou-sama speech.
  • Ohoho (オホホ): The high-pitched laugh that almost always follows a haughty ~desu wa.

Summary

“~Desu wa” is the hallmark of high-class anime ladies, but be careful—in text, that “princess” might actually be a friendly uncle from Osaka!

More posts