オタク
otaku[o̞ta̠kɯ̟]
In Japanese, otaku refers to one with an obsessive interest in something such as anime or manga. If unsure, use オタク. Wiktionary also lists ヲタク (otaku).
Meaning: one with an obsessive interest in something such as anime or manga (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| オタク | otaku | [o̞ta̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| ヲタク | otaku | [o̞ta̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
otaku describes a person with an intense, often obsessive interest in niche hobbies. While many people use it to self-identify, it frequently carries a negative connotation of being socially awkward or excessively obsessed. You can also use the casual term Akiba-kei to describe an otaku.
What does it mean word for word?
The term originally comes from the polite Japanese term お宅, which means 'your house' or 'one's home'.
Which one should you use?
The standard spelling is オタク. The version ヲタク is pronounced the same way but is used in internet slang or to emphasize a specific subcultural identity.
How do you pronounce it?
otaku
Did you know?
- The term became widely recognized in the 1980s when fans at conventions avoided direct eye contact and referred to each other using the formal 'your house' otaku to maintain a polite distance.
- While it often refers to anime, Japan has specialized terms like Densha-otaku for train enthusiasts and Gunji-otaku for military history buffs.
- In modern Japan, the government has promoted Cool Japan to rebrand otaku culture as a global economic asset rather than a social liability.
Examples in context
- 彼はアニメのオタクだ。Kare wa anime no otaku da.He is an anime otaku.
- あの人は鉄道のオタクらしい。Ano hito wa tetsudo no otaku rashii.That person is apparently a train otaku.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are talking about a classmate.
- 健太 Kentaあの人、実はすごいオタクなんだよ。ano hito, jitsu wa sugoi otaku nan da yo.That person is actually a huge geek.
- 美咲 Misakiえっ、本当に？意外だね。e, hontou ni? igai da ne.What, really? That's surprising.
- 健太 Kenta部屋が漫画でいっぱいらしいよ。heya ga manga de ippai rashii yo.I heard his room is full of manga.
- 美咲 Misaki典型的なオタクだね。tenkeiteki na otaku da ne.He's a typical nerd.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “otaku” translations and entries オタク, ヲタク, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries オタク, CC BY-SA 4.0.
