CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I'm just curious--I know an extra-cute bishonen is a "bishie," but what's an extra-cute bishoujo called?

Bijin! ^^

Tenshi no Ai wrote:Bijin! ^^

Really? Do tell.

RedMage wrote:Really? Do tell.

I'm certain I've heard it on a few anime series as the equivilant of saying "bishies" when a guy character from some anime was refering to some girl (no idea who or what, I just remember hearing it :/)

Although I'm pretty sure that literally translated "bijin" just means "beauty"... *checks dictionary just to make sure...* And what do ya know? The literal translation is "beautiful WOMAN". Course since "bishie" is more a slang for "hottie" when it comes to guys (at least what I've always thought of it as^^) it is no where to be seen...

Tenshi no Ai wrote:Bijin! ^^

*blinks* I knew that not; I've been calling bishoujos "bishies". I'll have to remember this one... ^_^;

TheMelodyMaker wrote: I've been calling bishoujos "bishies".

*snickers quietly* Always helps when ya look something up

I think "Utsukushii" also means beautiful in the literal sense, but I always seem to hear it as meaning "beauty" or "maiden." So that might work also.

Allegro wrote:I think "Utsukushii" also means beautiful in the literal sense, but I always seem to hear it as meaning "beauty" or "maiden." So that might work also.

"Maiden" is more literally "otome". Yeah "utsukushii" means beautiful but more in a... more extreme matter. Typical anime character that would say this, are those male characters with the long blonde hair, rose in their mouth, and think they're all that^^

And then don't foreget there's still the plain ol' "kirei" (pretty) that should NOT be confused with "kirai" (hate). Ah Japanese puns can be fun to get once you know the language alot more (and help from those translation notes nice subbers make for you too^^).

Tenshi no Ai wrote:"Maiden" is more literally "otome". Yeah "utsukushii" means beautiful but more in a... more extreme matter. Typical anime character that would say this, are those male characters with the long blonde hair, rose in their mouth, and think they're all that^^

And then don't foreget there's still the plain ol' "kirei" (pretty) that should NOT be confused with "kirai" (hate). Ah Japanese puns can be fun to get once you know the language alot more (and help from those translation notes nice subbers make for you too^^).

Ah I see. I always had a hunch that it meant something extreme, but I never envisioned its meaning from the example you just gave.

In commenting about kirei\kirai, I find that "kawaii" (cute) also can be confused with "kowai" (scary). They sound so much similiar, yet are also very opposite meanings.

Tenshi no Ai wrote:I'm certain I've heard it on a few anime series as the equivilant of saying "bishies" when a guy character from some anime was refering to some girl (no idea who or what, I just remember hearing it :/)

Although I'm pretty sure that literally translated "bijin" just means "beauty"... *checks dictionary just to make sure...* And what do ya know? The literal translation is "beautiful WOMAN". Course since "bishie" is more a slang for "hottie" when it comes to guys (at least what I've always thought of it as^^) it is no where to be seen...

"You learn something new every day," said the horse.

Trackball wrote:I'm just curious--I know an extra-cute bishonen is a "bishie," but what's an extra-cute bishoujo called?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand a girl would simply be
"shoujo", but "bishoujo" would a pretty girl. . .

From Jim Breen's WWWJDIC server:

Shoujo means virgin or maiden. It also means pure / clean.

Shojo can also mean virgin. That explains why they are more or less interchangable.

Bishoujo means beautiful girl.

Bishojo doesn't mean anything.

Shounen juveniles or boys.

Shonen means the first years of a reign or era.

Bishounen means handsome youth.

Bishonen doesn't mean anything.


WWWJDIC is my friend.