Japanese word

オタク

Pronunciation

Romajiotaku

Meaning

  • noungeek

Example

彼はアニメのオタクです。kare wa a ni me no o ta ku de su

He is an anime geek.

Illustration for オタク (geek)

More examples

その店にはオタク向けの商品が多いです。so no mise ni wa o ta ku mu ke no shō hin ga ō i de su

That store has many products for geeks.

Core concept

Describes a person with an unusually deep and detailed interest in a particular subject or hobby.

Common phrases

  • オタク向けo ta ku mu ke

    for geeks

  • オタク文化o ta ku bun ka

    geek culture

Similar words

マニアmania: A person with an intense interest in a particular subject or hobby.
ファンfan: A person who likes and actively follows a particular performer, work, team, or subject.
愛好家aikōka: A person who enjoys and has a lasting interest in a particular subject or activity.

Definition in Japanese

特定の分野や趣味に強い関心を持ち、詳しい知識やこだわりを持つ人。toku tei no bun ya ya shu mi ni tsuyo i kan shin o mo chi kuwa shi i chi shiki ya ko da wa ri o mo tsu hito

Word origin

The slang オタク (otaku, "geek") is generally traced to お宅 (otaku, "your home"), a polite second-person form used by some early fans; its wider fan-related meaning developed in the 1980s.

Usage tips

  • In English, otaku often means an anime or manga fan, while Japanese オタク (otaku) can describe a deeply devoted enthusiast in many different fields.

Other meanings

  • nerdnoun
  • enthusiastnoun

Word lists with this word