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 focus on Dr. Stone . This series succeeds brilliantly in always surprising the reader. Who would have ever predicted that Senku would be trying to create cell phones so soon? Actually, Taiju mentioned it in chapter 4! Senku must be a little embarrassed for calling him a big oaf back then…

YABAI (やばい)

We’ve covered YABAI before. It means “dangerous” or “risky.” It’s something you yell out when you see something bad. But it can also be used as slang to compliment something. Like “YABAI, these potato chips are way too delicious!” And that’s what Chrome does a lot. Rarely does a chapter go by where he doesn’t say YABAI or an alternate version when he screams out YABEEEEE! And with his contributions to the science kingdom in recent chapters, he’s truly become one bad dude.

WATAAME (わたあめ)

WATAAME means “cotton candy.” WATA is “cotton” and AME means “sweets” or “candy.” Even though Senku is creating amazing things one after another, like gunpowder, swords and light bulbs, it may be little things like WATAAME that actually win the battle against Tsukasa’s forces. Remember, it was cola that got Gen to switch sides earlier!

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