元気玉
Genkidama
The Japanese phrase for spirit bomb is 元気玉 (Genkidama).
元気玉 refers to a fictional energy attack from the Dragon Ball series that is created by gathering energy from living beings.
How do you pronounce it?
Genkidama
Did you know?
- While English speakers call it a 'bomb', the Japanese word 玉 (tama) describes a sphere, meaning the 'bomb' part of the English translation is a creative localization rather than a literal translation.
- The suffix dama refers to a 'ball' or 'sphere', but it is also the term used for 'pill' in medicine. In Japanese, a 'pill' and a 'sphere' are often described using this same linguistic root.
- In Japanese pop culture, the 元気玉 (Genkidama) has become a shorthand metaphor for any project that requires a massive amount of collective support or 'crowdsourcing' to succeed.
Examples in context
- 悟空は元気玉を使った。Goku wa genkidama o tsukatta.Goku used the spirit bomb.
- 元気玉の演出がすごく好きです。Genkidama no enshutsu ga sugoku suki desu.I really love the depiction of the spirit bomb.
- このアニメには元気玉が出てくる。Kono anime ni wa genkidama ga detekuru.The spirit bomb appears in this anime.
Example conversation
Two siblings are pretending to be characters from a manga.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、元気玉を投げるよ！Yōta, Genkidama o nageru yo!Yōta, I'm throwing the spirit bomb!
- 陽太 Yotaうわあ、すごい威力だ！Uwā,すごい iryoku da!Wow, the power is incredible!
- 陽葵 Himariみんなの力を借りたからね。Minna no chikara o karita kara ne.That's because I borrowed everyone's power.
- 陽太 Yotaやっぱり元気玉は最強だね。Yappari Genkidama wa saikyō da ne.As I thought, the spirit bomb is the strongest.
