ヤンデレ
yandere[jã̠nde̞ɾe̞]
The English phrase "yandere" is translated into Japanese as ヤンデレ.
ヤンデレ refers to a character archetype that is initially loving but becomes obsessive and violent because of their romantic feelings.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a portmanteau of yanderu (to be sick/ill) and dere (lovestruck/sweet).
How do you pronounce it?
yandere
Did you know?
- In Japanese media, a ヤンデレ character is often signaled by a specific visual cue: their eyes lose their highlights, becoming dull or 'flat' to show their mental instability.
- The yan in ヤンデレ is a contraction of yande iru, the progressive form of the verb 'to be sick', emphasizing a continuous state of illness.
- While ヤンデレ is a global term, it is an internet-born slang word and is not found in standard Japanese dictionaries or formal speech.
Examples in context
- あのキャラクターはヤンデレだよねThat character is a yandere, right?
- 彼（かれ）はヤンデレっぽいHe seems yandere-ish.
- 彼女はヤンデレな一面を持っている。Kanojo wa yandere na ichimen o motte iru.She has a yandere side to her.
- 最近のゲームにはヤンデレキャラが多い。Saikin no gēmu ni wa yandere kyara ga ooi.There are many yandere characters in recent games.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about an anime they just watched.
- 結衣 Yuiあのヒロイン、ちょっとヤンデレじゃない？Ano hiroin, chotto yandere janai?Isn't that heroine a bit yandere?
- 陽太 Yota確かに、愛が重すぎるよね。Tashika ni, ai ga omosugiru yo ne.True, her love is too heavy.
- 結衣 Yui陽太はそういうキャラ、好き？Youta wa sou iu kyara, suki?Youta, do you like those kinds of characters?
- 陽太 Yotaいや、少し怖いよ。Iya, sukoshi kowai yo.No, they are a bit scary.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ヤンデレ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ヤンデレ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
