Naruto Character Names, Origins, and Meanings

[ShikamaruSama]

Originally Posted by skillosopher

what about all the different forms of "i" and "you"?

orde
watashi
boku

kimi
anata
omaie
teme

(spelling sucks). but i dont understand when to use these words...and when not to.

From my understanding the words for 'I' are ore, watashi, and boku. Boku being used by males only and the others are unisexual. Ore is less polite than watashi, I'm not sure about boku. When in doubt, just use watashi.

I'm not familiar with kimi, but I'm pretty sure about anata and omae. Anata is the politer of the two. Omae is usually used around people you're close with like friends and such. If you're not sure which to use, use anata. It's better to use the politer word and sound silly than using the other and possibly offending the other person.

[raikage]

Actually, I would use 'kimi' over 'anata'. 'Anata' is generally a bit more intimate in its usage, while 'kimi' seems to be a bit more used.

"Watashi" is not solely for girls - if you get into the Japanese businessworld men will refer to themselves as "watashi".

[Veritas]

Originally Posted by skillosopher

what about all the different forms of "i" and "you"?

orde
watashi
boku

kimi
anata
omaie
teme

(spelling sucks). but i dont understand when to use these words...and when not to.

"I" forms:

Ore - masculine; rough way of referring to oneself
Boku - masculine; more polite, standard way of referring to oneself
Watashi - Unisex
Atashi - feminine; standard way of referring to oneself
Watakushi - unisex; very formal way of referring to oneself
Washi - masculine; old man way of referring to oneself

"You" forms:

Kimi - unisex, tending toward masculine; standard way of referring to someone other than oneself
Anata - unisex; a more intimate way of referring to someone, but still standard. You will hear spouses call each other 'anata'
Omae - referring to someone who is, or you feel is, lower than you in some way (ex: Heero Yuy's (Gundam Wing) famous line "Omae o korosu" ("I'm going to kill you.") uses the same word as when Kakashi speaks to Team 7)
Kisama - nasty way of referring to someone
Temee - even nastier way of referring to someone

"He/She/They"

Kare - He; standard form
Kanojo - She; standard form
Aitsu or Koitsu - that guy/person; rude

[NeoKakashi]

Originally Posted by raikage

"Watashi" is not solely for girls - if you get into the Japanese businessworld men will refer to themselves as "watashi".

I know it's not solely for girls, but I was under the impression that a girl was more likely to use "watashi" than a boy. Or at least that's what I got out of my sensei; maybe I misunderstood?

[Yakushi-san]

Originally Posted by Veritas

Anata - unisex; a more intimate way of referring to someone, but still standard. You will hear spouses call each other 'anata'

Anata also means Darling. Such as a married couple speaking to eachother.

Example? Ok.
When you are presented wth Sasuke's past, that old lady speaks to him about Itachi already graduating at Sasuke's age, then her husband comes.
"Oh, anata" she says, and then he tells her that she's rambling and tells Sasuke's that he will also become a great Shinobi.

[raikage]

Originally Posted by NeoKakashi

I know it's not solely for girls, but I was under the impression that a girl was more likely to use "watashi" than a boy. Or at least that's what I got out of my sensei; maybe I misunderstood?

Girls will use atashi. The unisex term is watashi.

[Veritas]

Originally Posted by Yakushi-san

Anata also means Darling. Such as a married couple speaking to eachother.

Example? Ok.
When you are presented wth Sasuke's past, that old lady speaks to him about Itachi already graduating at Sasuke's age, then her husband comes.
"Oh, anata" she says, and then he tells her that she's rambling and tells Sasuke's that he will also become a great Shinobi.

Which is why I said spouses would call each other 'anata.'

Edit: I found a site that goes somewhat more in depth about this.

[skillosopher]

thanks a billion guys.

i knew teme was a derogative way to refer to someone, but it often gets translated into "you." at leat in my anime experience.

and what about

(i)wy...

as in wywa. ive noticed some people use this too.

[Kidd]

Originally Posted by skillosopher

thanks a billion guys.

i knew teme was a derogative way to refer to someone, but it often gets translated into "you." at leat in my anime experience.

and what about

(i)wy...

as in wywa. ive noticed some people use this too.

I have no idea what word you're searching for. Try to find it in some Naruto episode and I'll tell you how it works - it's best to use Naruto to try this out since it's obvious I have all the eps avaliable, heh heh.

[scopa]

just a note on "boku"

once you get older, men generally switch to watashi more than boku. If you are a grown male who refers to himself as boku all the time, you risk sounding immature/gay. Its fine to use it sometimes, but dont use it all the time thinking your being manly.

[Srin Tuar]

Originally Posted by Yakushi-san

Anata also means Darling. Such as a married couple speaking to eachother.

Example? Ok.
When you are presented wth Sasuke's past, that old lady speaks to him about Itachi already graduating at Sasuke's age, then her husband comes.
"Oh, anata" she says, and then he tells her that she's rambling and tells Sasuke's that he will also become a great Shinobi.

A Wife/girlfriend addresses her Husband/Master that way. Men dont call their wives "anata" normally.

[NeoKakashi]

Originally Posted by skillosopher

and what about

(i)wy...

as in wywa. ive noticed some people use this too.

That can't even be a Japanese word, as there is no "wy" sound in Japanese.

[kboykb]

Hrm - when Naruto wants to see Kakashi's face.. and puts the flashlight up under his trying to scare Sakura..

He says Kakashi nii - chan.. I thought that was like brother? Or am I getting things mixed up?

[skillosopher]

Originally Posted by NeoKakashi

That can't even be a Japanese word, as there is no "wy" sound in Japanese.

then its "wai." i found it, i think. some people say wai wa. instead of watashi wa. am i just crazy? dont people from osaka speak this way?

[scopa]

Originally Posted by kboykb

Hrm - when Naruto wants to see Kakashi's face.. and puts the flashlight up under his trying to scare Sakura..

He says Kakashi nii - chan.. I thought that was like brother? Or am I getting things mixed up?

nii-chan is used to refer to an older male who you are somewhat close too much in the same way as an older brother. People who might qualify as nii-chan would be:

your older brother, your friends older brother, your friends cousins, a much older classmate (think highschool-gradeschool) who is too old to be considered a "peer" so you dont really have to call him "senpai", and you are close enough to him that you consider him like family so you dont have to call him "san".

nii-chan is friendly, but still respectful of an older male. That being said, naruto shouldn't say kakashi nii-chan. he should say "sensei", but since kakashi wasn't around, he didn't feel like it.

as for the mysterious "wy" that people are talking about... could you be referring to "walawa"? I believe its a formal and feminine way to say "I". in anime, I have heard it used by goddesses, or female oracles

[Racheal]

Other than the obvious request as to what are the meanings behind the names of characters in Naruto, what is the meaning of techniques example Rasengan.

[Animizzle]

rasengan means...spiral sphere...
chidori means...thousand birds

but this is all in the better translated episodes of Naruto (ANBU-AonE)

edit-

Spiral sphere meaning offcourse the spinning chakra inside the sphere you create in the palm of your hand.

[kyosuke]

I know naruto means fish paste cake. Well, I don't know what Sasuke means
but it seems like a popular name for Ninjas or something.
Sakura means cherry blossom. That's about all I can think as of right now.

Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken I mean don't go on a killing spree if I'm wrong or anything.

[naantje]

Originally Posted by kyosuke

I know naruto means fish paste cake. Well, I don't know what Sasuke means
but it seems like a popular name for Ninjas or something.
Sakura means cherry blossom. That's about all I can think as of right now.

Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken I mean don't go on a killing spree if I'm wrong or anything.

if theres a ninja in an anime, 90% of the time he's called sasuke, i think it was the name of a legendary ninja

[r4sEnGan]

go to narutoinfo.com
you'll find alot of information about names, and other intresting stuff there