Super Mario X Japanese Lesson

By Michael Gakuran | | Japan | 14 Comments |

I came across this fantastically hilarious Super Mario World parody today. It’s an original song by Hyadain which I enjoyed so much that I subtitled and turned into a special Gakuranman Japanese lesson for you! Men compete with their heart!

mario-parody

The video has been given the spangly treatment to make it into a colourful and fun creation to watch, complete with great voice-acting and clever lyrics. Some really interesting advanced Japanese expressions make their appearance – I explain them all at the end of the video. Don’t forget to enable English subtitles if they don’t show automatically! ^_^.

Here are a few notes to complement the advanced Japanese expressions:

乾く暇がない

‘Don’t have time to dry up’ – a guy who plays around and sleeps with lots of women (and hence doesn’t even have time to ‘dry up’. (Generally used between guys).

ツンデレなとこも魅力的

‘That cold-yet-cute part of you is attractive’ – A juxtaposition of cold-heartedness and being lovey-dovey in a person. (Many guys in Japan like this type of girl – cold and strict to them in company but cute and affectionate in private)

KY! KY! 空気読めこりゃ!

‘KY! KY! Read the air (grr!)’ – Somebody who doesn’t read the emotional ‘atmosphere’ in a given situation and hence upsets the balance and mood.

バーターのくせに生意気ね

‘For a sidekick, you’re quite conceited’ – The reverse of 束(たば)and elongated refers to a person who isn’t important enough to appear on stage on their own – they always have to come with a group or someone else, hence why I chose ‘sidekick’ in this situation. ‘Kuse ni’ means ‘in spite of (being)’.

おおう、盛んだねぇ。今度紹介してよ!

‘Ooh, you’re enthusiastic! Introduce me to her next time!’ – Egging someone on about being ‘out on the prowl’, engagin with lots of women (or men, I guess). ‘Introduce me next time!’ is referring to the girl/guy that said person is slipping off to see.

mario-parody2

You can view the original Nico Nico video here: スーパーマリオでウエスタンショーに絵を付けてみた

Did you enjoy the video and learn anything? Any comments on the translation?

14 comments on “Super Mario X Japanese Lesson
  1. Nekesu says:

    Interesting video, I always like learning words you don't see in textbooks, I've had my head buried in those too much lately.

  2. Mike says:

    Hey all! Thanks for the kind words ^^. I’m glad you enjoyed it and even you Japanese guys learnt something! (Shock!)

    @Yoshi Interesting note about the Tsundere Kissa ^^.

    @Hiroyasu, you should get a Nico Nico Douga account! :P When are you back in Japan by the way?

  3. Mike says:

    Hey all! Thanks for the kind words ^^. I’m glad you enjoyed it and even you Japanese guys learnt something! (Shock!)

    @Yoshi Interesting note about the Tsundere Kissa ^^.

    @Hiroyasu, you should get a Nico Nico Douga account! :P When are you back in Japan by the way?

  4. Yoshi (aka Super Yossy) says:

    Yossy is the best!!! Cos it’s me! :-D
    BYW, I guess the word Tsundere comes from “Tsundere kissa”, kinda coffee shop with maids who are cold when guys order stuff and affectionate when they ask the bill to go.

  5. Yoshi (aka Super Yossy) says:

    Yossy is the best!!! Cos it’s me! :-D
    BYW, I guess the word Tsundere comes from “Tsundere kissa”, kinda coffee shop with maids who are cold when guys order stuff and affectionate when they ask the bill to go.

  6. hiroyasu says:

    Wow, it’s great and funny!! even I, a native Japanese speaker, learned some words I didn’t know!
    I’m also surprised that you have a Nico Nico account:-] (I don’t have it though..)

  7. hiroyasu says:

    Wow, it’s great and funny!! even I, a native Japanese speaker, learned some words I didn’t know!
    I’m also surprised that you have a Nico Nico account:-] (I don’t have it though..)

  8. Philip Seyfi says:

    Thnx for a great, funny, explanation!

  9. seifip says:

    Thnx for a great, funny, explanation!

  10. Satoshii says:

    Nice video! I’ve seen it before, but it’s great that you went through it.

    ルイージさんはかっこいいようにみえたね。すてきな絵。

  11. Satoshii says:

    Nice video! I’ve seen it before, but it’s great that you went through it.

    ルイージさんはかっこいいようにみえたね。すてきな絵。

  12. Harvey says:

    Great stuff! I didn’t know バーター either, and nether did my wife who is a native speaker! You’re digging deep man, good stuff!

  13. Harvey says:

    Great stuff! I didn’t know バーター either, and nether did my wife who is a native speaker! You’re digging deep man, good stuff!

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