Expression used in drama - what does it mean?

[bonehelm]

Hi, in one drama I watched, some guy showed his girlfriend his new hairstyle, which had 2 pony tails like a little girl. He asked his GF, "ore kawaii?" and instead of "kawaii janai", his GF replied "kawaii janai chan!" or something that sounded like that (could be kawaii janai jyan, if i heard it wrong). What does that mean? I noticed it was used by both male and female characters, however the "chan" part is not always preceded by "kawaii janai". Is it just another way of saying "kawaii janai yo!"?

If you need more details of the context I'll be glad to post more. If not, onegaishimasu, please tell me what it means.

arigatou

 

[Ashikaga]

It is most likely "Kawaii ja nai jan". She is not, however, saying that his new hairdo is not kawaii necessarily, but rather reprimanding him for being a doofus asking if he looked cute. So if I were to write down the dialogue, I would do it like this : "Kawaii?" janai jan!
She is "denying his question". Does that make sense?

It is always a good idea to give the context especially when asking these kind of questions. So, more details, please. ﾂ

 

[Kyle]

It is most likely "Kawaii ja nai jan". She is not, however, saying that his new hairdo is not kawaii necessarily, but rather reprimanding him for being a doofus asking if he looked cute. So if I were to write down the dialogue, I would do it like this : "Kawaii?" janai jan!
She is "denying his question". Does that make sense?
It is always a good idea to give the context especially when asking these kind of questions. So, more details, please. ﾂ

So if she was refusing the question would that mean a definite no? Or would it be more like the girl saying, "That's a stupid question, so I'm not answering."

Or could it mean that the girl doesn't see the guy like that?

I am just wondering what situation would it be used it?

Like if the dude is the girls best friend and she doesn't see him like that. Or the answer to the question is obvious, so she's deciding not to answer. Or that it is more of a definite no?

 

[Chidoriashi]

yeah, how you punctuate this could change the meaning a little... however.. if i was refuting his question as a little silly... i would have said kawaiku nai jyan... Which is like "of course its not cute.. dont be silly"... not kawaii jyanai jyan... but then again, I am not Japanese, and have not seen the drama.. so i dont know.

 

[bonehelm]

Thanks guys that helped a lot. I checked with a translator of the SARS fansubs and the line was indeed "janai jan". Thanks anyway.

 

[Ashikaga]

So if she was refusing the question would that mean a definite no? Or would it be more like the girl saying, "That's a stupid question, so I'm not answering."
Or could it mean that the girl doesn't see the guy like that?
I am just wondering what situation would it be used it?
Like if the dude is the girls best friend and she doesn't see him like that. Or the answer to the question is obvious, so she's deciding not to answer. Or that it is more of a definite no?

The guy, in the first place, is only joking around when he asks her, "Am I cute?"
She is basically saying "Stop being silly." Whether she thinks the guy with pony tails is cute is NOT expressed/implied in her remark.

yeah, how you punctuate this could change the meaning a little... however.. if i was refuting his question as a little silly... i would have said kawaiku nai jyan... Which is like "of course its not cute.. dont be silly"... not kawaii jyanai jyan... but then again, I am not Japanese, and have not seen the drama.. so i dont know.

OK, "Kawaii" in this dialogue, in her line, more specifically, is NOT used as an adjective. It represents his question, "Ore kawaii/Am I cute?". That's why I wrote it the way I did in my last post ("Kawaii?" ja nai jan!).
This is a very colloquial expression and I doubt it makes an apearance in any text books. I will give a couple of more examples.

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(....bonehelm failed his English exam for the second time and now faces a possibility of having to repeat his junior year. He comments as he eats a piece of cake as if being held back a year is not that big a deal.)

bone : Kono keeki, oishii ne~
Kyle : "oishii ne~" ja nai yo! ryuunen ga douiu mono ka omae wa wakatteru no!?"

bone : Man! This cake is da shiznit!!
Kyle : "DA SHIZNIT!?" Do you even know what being held back a year means!?

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(......Kyle is prancing around in his sister's Catholic school uniform pretending he is a young girl as his friend Chidori looks on...)

Kyle : Ge!! Kono burausu, sukesuke ja~n! Bura tsukenai to Kyle-chan no oppai ga miechau~! ASHIKAGA ni miraretara doushiyou~~~!
Chidori : "Doushiyou~~~?" ja ne~yo! Baka ka, omae wa!?

Kyle : OMG! This blouse is see-through! If I don't wear a bra, they can see Kyliekin's pompoms! What if ASHIKAGA saw them!? Oh no~~~
Chidori : "Oh, noooo~"!? (He is mocking Kyle by repeating his line) Are you an idiot!?

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OK, I was bored and went a bit overboard with the examples. I hope it made some sense.

 

[Kirakira1232]

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(......Kyle is prancing around in his sister's Catholic school uniform pretending he is a young girl as his friend Chidori looks on...)
Kyle : Ge!! Kono burausu, sukesuke ja~n! Bura tsukenai to Kyle-chan no oppai ga miechau~! ASHIKAGA ni miraretara doushiyou~~~!
Chidori : "Doushiyou~~~?" ja ne~yo! Baka ka, omae wa!?
Kyle : OMG! This blouse is see-through! If I don't wear a bra, they can see Kyliekin's pompoms! What if ASHIKAGA saw them!? Oh no~~~
Chidori : "Oh, noooo~"!? (He is mocking Kyle by repeating his line) Are you an idiot!?
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OK, I was bored and went a bit overboard with the examples. I hope it made some sense.

...and so Ashikaga-kun's fantasy's are revealed....

 

[bonehelm]

The guy, in the first place, is only joking around when he asks her, "Am I cute?"
She is basically saying "Stop being silly." Whether she thinks the guy with pony tails is cute is NOT expressed/implied in her remark.
OK, "Kawaii" in this dialogue, in her line, more specifically, is NOT used as an adjective. It represents his question, "Ore kawaii/Am I cute?". That's why I wrote it the way I did in my last post ("Kawaii?" ja nai jan!).
This is a very colloquial expression and I doubt it makes an apearance in any text books. I will give a couple of more examples.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(....bonehelm failed his English exam for the second time and now faces a possibility of having to repeat his junior year. He comments as he eats a piece of cake as if being held back a year is not that big a deal.)
bone : Kono keeki, oishii ne~
Kyle : "oishii ne~" ja nai yo! ryuunen ga douiu mono ka omae wa wakatteru no!?"
bone : Man! This cake is da shiznit!!
Kyle : "DA SHIZNIT!?" Do you even know what being held back a year means!?
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(......Kyle is prancing around in his sister's Catholic school uniform pretending he is a young girl as his friend Chidori looks on...)
Kyle : Ge!! Kono burausu, sukesuke ja~n! Bura tsukenai to Kyle-chan no oppai ga miechau~! ASHIKAGA ni miraretara doushiyou~~~!
Chidori : "Doushiyou~~~?" ja ne~yo! Baka ka, omae wa!?
Kyle : OMG! This blouse is see-through! If I don't wear a bra, they can see Kyliekin's pompoms! What if ASHIKAGA saw them!? Oh no~~~
Chidori : "Oh, noooo~"!? (He is mocking Kyle by repeating his line) Are you an idiot!?
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OK, I was bored and went a bit overboard with the examples. I hope it made some sense.

This post is immensely educational and entertaining. Gets my vote for post of the month.