Anime Terms
A collection of terms commonly used on the internet in relation to anime. Note: internet. This does not mean go out and use it regularly in public, as my romanji and understanding of the Japanese language is far from perfect (more like nonexistent), and the words are often used the wrong way online (oh, the horrors of internet newbies...).
General Terms
cosplay: 'Costume Play'. Refers to when someone dresses up as an anime (or video game) character. Seen often at anime conventions.
doujinshi: A fancomic based on an anime that illustrates a storyline the author/artist wants it to follow. They have no impact on the series, and often are based around pairings that didn't happen in the anime.
manga: The Japanese equivalent of American comic books, traditionally read from right to left.
otaku: Used by Americans to refer to someone obsessed with anime. In Japanese it's the equivalent of 'nerd'.
romanji: The phonetic spelling of Japanese words, translated into English.
seiyuu: Japanese word for voice actor.
'Japanese' Guide
arigato: 'Thank you'
baka: 'Idiot' or 'moron'
chibi: A very small anime character, ususally super deformed...example here.
gomen: Informal way of saying 'I'm sorry'. Formal version is 'gomen nasai' (very sorry)
hai: 'Yes'
hentai: Either referring to a perverted person or the actual movies/genre, which are basically anime porn.
iie: 'No'
itai: Way of saying 'ouch'
ja ne: Informal, 'goodbye'
kawaii: 'Cute'
kuso: Swear word, 'shit'
neko: Literally, 'cat'
omake: 'Bonus' or 'extra'
shimatta: Swear word, 'damn' or 'crap'
sugoi: 'Cool' or 'amazing', often used as an exclamation
yume: 'Dream'
Fanfiction Terms
AU: Alternate Universe, in which the characters are transported into an entirely different setting and usually only keep their personalities. (For instance, the characters in a fantasy world being written in present times.) Sometimes mistakenly used to refer to an AT.
AT: Alternate Timeline, in which the author follows the anime timeline up to a certain point, and then branches off.
BDSM: Not just an anime term, but used often enough. Usually refers to bondage or S/M play. Literal translation: Bondage-
Discipline/Dominance-Submission/Slave-Master (or Sadism-Masochism).
canon: The actual timeline and events of a series.
fanon: Something used so often in fanfiction it's accepted as the norm. Often it occurs when a character's past is never fully revealed.
lemon: Explicit sex scene.
lime: Depending on the author, lime ranges from an interrupted attempt at sex to a very glossy version of the actual act.
loli: Relationship (non-con or not) in which one character is attracted to a younger, female character.
MST: Refers to the show 'Mystery Science Theater 3000', in which various badly made sci-fi movies were poked fun at through witty comments. It's basically the same thing in fanfiction--however, it's rude (for obvious reasons) to at the very least not inform the author you write one. MSTs often come off as more cruel than clever.
NCS: Non Consensual Sex. Rape, in a word. Also referred to as 'non-con'.
PWP: Once a clever term meaning 'Plot? What Plot?', but now means 'Porn Without Plot', and is basically that--a sex scene between characters for no (or a very flimsy) reason.
seme: In a gay relationship, the character on the top.
shota: Relationship (non-con or not) in which one character is attracted to a younger, male character.
shounen ai: Outdated term in Japan that English fanfic writers use to refer to a gay relationship that usually involves more romance than sex. Literally means 'boy's love'.
shoujo ai: Outdated term in Japan that English fanfic writers use to refer to a lesbian relationship that usually involves more romance than sex. Literally means 'girl's love'.
TWT: 'Timeline? What Timeline?' Similar to an AT, in which the author writes the characters in the same world and setting, but disregards most of the main events.
uke: In a gay relationship, the character on the bottom (being penetrated). Often an uke is portrayed as the 'female', and turns into a blushing virgin, whether or not their character's personality is like that.
WAFF: Warm and Fluffy (or fuzzy) Feeling.
yaoi: Depicts a gay relationship that usually involves sex, or implied sex. It depends on the author's perception of the term--yaoi is more often now being used to simply refer to a male-male relationship in anime (as shounen-ai is outdated), and not necessarily has to involve sex.
yuri: Depicts a lesbian relationship that usually involves sex, or implied sex. It depends on the author's perception of the term--yuri is more often now being used to simply refer to a female-female relationship in anime (as shoujo-ai is outdated), and not necessarily has to involve sex.
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