In Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, Chiyo Sakura’s love confession turns into a job as Umetarou Nozaki’s manga assistant! This funny high school story is perfect for learning casual Japanese, with its 4-panel format and furigana support for easy reading.
Work Information
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun(月刊少女野崎くん)
Author: Izumi Tsubaki
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Amount of text: moderate
Challenge level: ★★
Latest volume : Vol.16（Aug.2024 / Ongoing）
Story overview
A rough high school boy is actually a shoujo manga artist!
Meet Umetarou Nozaki, a seemingly tough high school student. When Chiyo Sakura, a fellow student, musters up the courage to confess her feelings for him, she somehow ends up becoming his assistant instead of his girlfriend. This is the everyday comedy of Nozaki-kun, a high school boy and a popular shoujo manga artist!
Why this manga is suitable for learning Japanese
The unique readability of 4-panel manga.
This work is a 4-panel manga, where each story is completed within four panels. This concise and easy-to-read format makes it accessible even to those who are not accustomed to reading manga. Another appealing aspect is that it can be quickly read during short breaks without needing to spend a lot of time on it.
Learn Casual High School Japanese with Easy-to-Read Furigana Support!
This story is set in a high school and primarily focuses on casual conversations among students. It offers a rich collection of examples of informal Japanese used between friends.
Furthermore, with a few exceptions, all kanji in this work are accompanied by furigana. This allows Japanese learners who find reading kanji challenging to follow the story without the inconvenience of looking up pronunciations. *Note: Kanji in the text outside the panels do not have furigana.
Phrase Spotlight
“Chari-tsu,” a symbol of youthチャリ通
“Chari-tsū” (チャリ通 - ちゃりつう) is a casual Japanese abbreviation that means “commuting to school by bicycle.” It is especially popular among students and young people.
What is “Chari-tsū”?
・“Chari” is a shortened form of “charinko,” which is a slang term for a bicycle.
・“Tsū” comes from “tsūgaku” (通学), meaning “commuting to school.”
This term is commonly used by students who bike to school as part of their daily routine.
The Origin of “Charinko”
The word “charinko” is a Japanese slang term for a bicycle. It is believed to originate from:
・“Charin” — the sound of a bicycle bell.
・“Ko” — a suffix used in baby talk to describe small or cute things.
※There are several theories.
Examples of Usage
「毎日チャリ通してるから、脚が鋭えられるわ！」
→ “I bike to school every day, so my legs are getting stronger!”
「チャリ通は雨の日がツライよね。」
→ “Biking to school is tough on rainy days.”
Other Common Japanese Abbreviations
Japanese frequently uses abbreviations to make communication faster and more casual. Here are some other popular examples:
Sumaho (スマホ):
Short for “smartphone.” This is the Japanese way of abbreviating the English word “smartphone.”
Baito (バイト):
Short for “arubaito” (アルバイト), meaning “part-time job.” This term itself comes from the German word “Arbeit” (work).
Makudo (マクド) / Makku (マック):
Both abbreviate “McDonald’s.” “Makudo” is used in the Kansai region (Western Japan), while “Makku” is preferred in the Kanto region (Eastern Japan).
Saboru (サボる):
A verb meaning “to slack off or skip.” It comes from the French word “sabotage.” For example, “Jugyō o saboru” means “to skip class.”
Disuru (ディスる):
A verb meaning “to diss (disrespect) someone.” This comes from the English word “disrespect” and is used when criticizing or speaking negatively about someone.
Related Term: “Mama-chari”
The Origin of “Mama-chari”
“Mama-chari” is a common slang term in Japan for a practical, everyday bicycle. The term combines:
“Mama” — meaning “mother.”
“Chari” — a casual term for “bicycle.”
Originally, it referred to small bicycles designed for women but later evolved to describe any utility bike used for everyday tasks.
Definition of “Mama-chari”
A mama-chari typically refers to a practical bicycle designed for daily use, such as grocery shopping or taking children to and from school. Although the name suggests it is for mothers, these bicycles are widely used by people of all ages and genders in Japan.
While there is no official definition, a mama-chari generally refers to a non-sporty, easy-to-ride city bicycle. It is a deeply embedded part of Japanese daily life, valued for its convenience and versatility.
A Little Warning
Nozaki-kun’s speech is rough and blunt.
Nozaki-kun is a character with an unexpected contrast: a big, unsociable high school boy who is actually a shoujo manga artist. His vocabulary and manner of speaking are quite rough. Be careful, as directly imitating his speech in real-life conversations might come across as strange.
Work Information
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun(月刊少女野崎くん)
Author: Izumi Tsubaki
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Amount of text: moderate
Challenge level: ★★
Latest volume : Vol.16（Aug.2024 / Ongoing）
This Blog’s ConceptIn this blog, we are introducing manga that are not only highly captivating but also ideal for Japanese language learners. Studying Japanese through manga is both fun and effective. Manga allows you to understand the subtleties of keigo (honorifics), teineigo (polite speech), and casual conversation in Japanese. We hope you find works that match your interests and use them to enhance your Japanese learning journey.