Welcome to the Nihongo Lesson feature. We strive to give you useful manga-based Japanese language tips and maybe even a glimpse into the translation process. This week's lesson will look into a term relevant to the latest Nisekoi chapter as well as plenty of other Shonen Jump series. Parents are usually in the background of manga, but that doesn't mean they don't care for their kids!

OTOUSAN/OKAASAN (おとうさん／おかあさん)

These two words have come up before, so consider it a review! OTOUSAN means "father" and OKAASAN means "mother." Parents in Shonen Jump sure don't get much respect. In a recent Bleach chapter, Ichigo mentioned that he didn't even consider his dad a doctor. He referred to him as just a "dude with a beard." That's pretty harsh, Ichigo!

On the other hand, Naruto really appreciated how his parents shaped who he became, even though they died on the day he was born! Crazy ninjutsu techniques sure come in handy for parenting beyond the grave!

OYABAKA (おやばか)

OYABAKA is made up of the word for "parent" and "stupid," but it's not really an insult. It actually means "doting parent"—basically, a parent who won't stop going on and on about how awesome their kid is. It must mean that the love for their child has made them dumb! And that's exactly what happens in Nisekoi. Onodera's mom, Nanako, just can't help but brag about how awesome her daughters are! It's kinda hard to blame her.

Get more tips by listening to our PODCAST!