オタク

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Japanese[edit]

Japanese Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia ja

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From お宅 (otaku), the honorific version of (taku, home), referring to 1982–1983 Macross fans, or perhaps earlier; see Wikipedia discussion.

Pronunciation[edit]

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Noun[edit]

オタク (otaku

  1. (chiefly derogatory) geek, nerd, freak; one who is obsessed with something to the exclusion of such things as social interaction.

Usage notes[edit]

  • Unlike in English, where the word otaku is used to refer to fans of anime and manga specifically, this term can be used to denote people with a heavy interest in any other topic, theme or hobby.
  • The term has recently gained derogatory connotations in its mainstream usage, whereas its non-derogatory usage continues mostly in its shortened forms オタ (ota) and ヲタ (ota) (see アニオタ (aniota, anime fan), 鉄オタ (tetsuota, "railway fan")).

Descendants[edit]

Further reading[edit]