[Otaku Japanese Lecture] Learn “The First Person” By Bungou Stray Dogs

2016-11-30

 

Otaku Japanese Lecture That You Can Use Right Away: Learn “The First Person” By Bungou Stray Dogs

 

 

Nice to meet you to those who don’t know me! Hello to those who know me! It’s Ayami from Otaku Republic.

 

 

It’s finally been a winter-like season here in Japan! Fall anime starting from October are getting half way through and livening up! (・v・)

 

 

I enjoy Bungou Stray Dogs every week! The images are really cool and beautiful, you know? The story has just got into a “Guild Arc”-version and more and more new strong enemy-characters are appearing... They show us such a thrilling development every time!

 

 

By the way, I’m a fan of Akutagawa Ryuunosuke-Senpai, who belongs to Port Mafia, is super cute with 172 cm (5 feet 7 inches)-height and 50 kg (110 pound)-weight, was born on March 1st, 20-year-old, likes figs and hates dogs but...

 

 

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he (Akutagawa-Senpai) is called Yatsugare-San(やつがれさん) as a nickname by the Japanese fans!

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

The reason why he’s called Yatsugare-San, which has nothing to do with his name, is...

There are so many ways of calling “the first person” which indicate “myself” in Japanese. And Akutagawa-Senpai uses one of the old-fashioned ways of calling the first person, “Yatsugare(やつがれ / 僕)”, to identify himself!

 

 

http://natalie.mu/

 

 

Interestingly, in Japanese, the people (who are talking)’s images differ, depending on what “the first person” they are using! When it’s translated into English, though, it always becomes “I”, which makes it hard for us to know the subtle nuance...

 

 

http://www.topanimeguide.com/

 

 

So today! In order to enjoy Japanese anime more manically! Let’s learn Japanese “the first person” with some characters appearing in Bungou Stray Dogs!

 

 

No.1 “Boku (ぼく / 僕)”

Characters who use it:Nakajima AtsushiSakaguchi Ango

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

Boku is one of the popular ways of calling “the first person”, which men use! If a young man like Atsushi-kun uses it, he will give a gentle and polite impression to people. You can use this word in various situations such as a casual one and formal one as well. You can definitely use this one when you talk to someone who is senior to you as well.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

Also, if an intellectual-like (and cute) man like Ango-San uses “Boku”, it will sound like more stylish and cocky!

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

No.2 “Ore(おれ / 俺)”

Characters who use it:Kunikida DoppoNakahara ChuuyaOda Sakunosuke

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

“Ore” is one of the common ways of calling “the first person” that men use. It’s more casual than “Boku” and it gives a confident-like impression! If an adult man like Kunikida-San or Odasaku uses this word, people might think that he is dependable.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

http://tama-yura.jp/

 

 

If a man like Chuuya uses “Ore”, he might sound more violent and strong-willed. Cool!

 

 

No.3 “Watashi(わたし / 私)”

Characters who use it:Izumi KyoukaDazai Osamu

 

 

“Watashi” is a way of calling the first person for both men and women! It’s more polite than “Boku” and “Ore” and can often be used in the formal scenes.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

If a young girl like Kyouka-Chan uses “Watashi”, identifying herself, she will give a smart, calm and rather adult-like impression.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

It’s so cool to see a scene where such a calm girl exposes her emotion, isn’t it?

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

Super cute... Kyouka-Chan... Be happy...

 

 

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Oops. I’m off the topic.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

Unlike Kyouka-Chan, using “Watashi”, if a weird person, like Dazai-San uses “Watashi”... it might emphasize the extent of “a weird person” or “a creepy person”. As this word (the first person) is often used in the formal scenes, Dazai-San, who loves attempting a suicide and twists people around his little finger, might be emphasized more as a weird person.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

We feel an extraordinary atmosphere in him and his strong-side, though, when he uses “Watashi” in the serious scene.

 

 

No.4 “Yatsugare (やつがれ / 僕)”

Characters who use it:Akutagawa Ryuunosuke

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

“Yatsugare”... This is a rare way of calling “the first person”. I’ve never seen people who actually use this word in my life yet... Just let me know if you find someone who actually uses this word since he/she might be a little weird person or even real Akutagawa-Senpai.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

I’ve heard that this expression is used when people want to show “modesty” or “humbleness”. You might be able to imagine that if you think about the old-fashioned version of “Watashi”, which I mentioned earlier.

 

 

Such a rare way of calling the first person, “Yatsugare”... is written “” in Kanji Character in Japanese. And the first person “Boku” that is used by the main character, Nakajima Atsushi-Kun, is also written “” in Kanji Character.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

I think Akutagawa-Senpai and Atsushi-Kun are so similar. They have no family and relatives and have grown in such severe environment. Due to such harsh circumstances, they both were saved by Dazai-San.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

Even though they have so many things in common, they never see each other without fighting against each other because of their different ways of thinking and different positions. If Atsushi-Kun is a main character of Bungou Stray Dogs, then Akutagawa-Senpai is the main character in the back, I guess.

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

The reason why Atsushi-Kun uses “僕(Boku)” and Akutagawa-Senpai uses “僕(Yatsugare)” is because their relationship might represent the front and the back of the coin... If you think that way, don’t you get excited?

 

 

http://anicobin.ldblog.jp/

 

 

Bungou Stray Dogs will get even more “HOT” after the strong enemy “Guild” appeared! Next time you watch the episode, pay attention to what Atsushi-Kun or Dazai-San calls himself too! You’ll find their attractions more deeply!

 

 

 


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