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Haunted by Love: A Polite Romance with a Ghostly Twist – Perfect for Japanese Learners!

This time, we’re introducing Koisuru 2DK, Ayakashi Zensai Tsuki.—a manga perfect for Japanese learners.

Work Information#

Book Cover

Koisuru 2DK, Ayakashi Zensai Tsuki.(恋する2DK、あやかし前妻憑き。)

Author: Roku Sakura
Publisher: KADOKAWA

Amount of text: moderate
Challenge level: ★★
Latest volume : Vol.3(Feb.2025 / Completed)

Read this work in Japanese

Story overview#

A Romantic Comedy About a Woman with Love Trauma and Her Desperate Search for Marriage!

“I can’t trust men anymore…” Tsukasa Oogami, a beleaguered office worker traumatized by love, is kicked out of her home after discovering her fiancé’s infidelity. With no boyfriend and no place to live, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol. In the midst of her despair, she moves into a rundown apartment and meets the famously handsome Haruyuki Isato. Could this be the start of a new romance…? But wait, it seems the ghost of Haruyuki’s “ex-wife” haunts this apartment—!?

Why this manga is suitable for learning Japanese#

There are many examples of polite language.#

The main characters, Tsukasa and Haruyuki, speak in polite language because they have just met and maintain a certain distance in their relationship. Additionally, Tsukasa also uses polite language when speaking to the ghost of the ex-wife, so there are relatively many examples of polite conversation. Furthermore, since Haruyuki is always polite to those around him and is portrayed as having a very kind personality, readers can be exposed to examples of polite language that leave a positive impression on the conversation partner.

Furigana on Kanji.#

In this work, all kanji have furigana, except for a few exceptions. This allows Japanese learners who struggle with reading kanji to follow the story without the hassle of looking up pronunciations.



Phrase Spotlight#

Is “超” Super? How This Japanese Prefix Adds Emphasis

超面倒(ちょうめんどう)

“Chō-mendō” (超面倒) is example of a common Japanese language trend where the prefix “chō” (超) is used to intensify meanings.

Understanding the Japanese Prefix “超” in Colloquial Expressions#

In contemporary Japanese, the prefix “超” (chō) is frequently used in casual speech to intensify the meaning of adjectives and adverbs. Expressions like “超面倒” (chō mendō, “super annoying”) or “超厳しい” (chō kibishii, “super strict”) first gained popularity with young people and are now widely recognized. This linguistic phenomenon is akin to the use of English intensifiers like “super,” “very,” “really,” or even “mega.”

Historical Context of “超”#

The character “超” originates from Classical Chinese and traditionally means “to surpass” or “to transcend.” In older and more formal Japanese usage, it conveyed a sense of exceeding a limit or going beyond a standard—a meaning still preserved in compound words like:

超越 (chōetsu): transcendence
超特急 (chōtokkyū): super express (train)

The shift from formal to casual usage began in the late 20th century, particularly through media, pop culture, and youth slang. By the 1980s and 1990s, “超” became a common prefix in everyday conversation, similar to the informal use of “super” in English.

Nuances and Usage of “超” Today#

1.Informality and Playfulness:#

Using “超” is distinctly informal and conveys a casual, playful tone. It is prevalent among younger generations and in relaxed settings but would be inappropriate in formal or business contexts.

2.Subjective Emphasis:#

Unlike objective descriptors, “超” emphasizes personal feeling or intensity. Saying “超面倒” (“super annoying”) suggests that you find the task personally irritating rather than making an objective statement.

3.Flexible Application:#

“超” can modify various parts of speech:

Adjectives: 超面白い (chō omoshiroi, “super interesting”)
Adverbs: 超ゆっくり (chō yukkuri, “super slowly”)
Nouns: 超一流 (chō ichiryū, “top-tier”)

4.Marketing and Branding:#

Companies often use “超” for product marketing to evoke a sense of superiority or exclusivity, like “超うまい” (super tasty) in snack advertising.

Comparison with English Intensifiers#

While “超” is often translated as “super,” subtle differences exist:

Japanese ExpressionLiteral MeaningNatural English Equivalent
超かわいい”Super cute""Adorable,” “So cute”
超ヤバい”Super dangerous” (lit.)”Insanely cool” or “Totally awful” (depends on context)
超忙しい”Super busy""Crazy busy,” “Swamped”

Emotional Weight:#

English tends to have more gradations—“very,” “super,” “crazy,” “insanely”—each conveying different emotional intensity. “超” is more versatile and all-encompassing, easily modifying both positive and negative terms.

From Youth Slang to Everyday Language#

While “chō” (超) is often associated with younger people, it is actually used by a much broader age range. The use of “chō” as an intensifier began in the 1990s, but instead of fading as a passing trend, it became a permanent part of everyday language. As a result, the generation that popularized “chō” during their youth continues to use it today—making it common even among people in their 50s.

“chō” is just one of several emphatic prefixes that originated from youth slang. Other examples include:

“meccha” (めっちゃ) – Originally from the Kansai dialect, it later spread to young people nationwide and is now considered as widely used as “chō.”
“oni” (鬼) – Literally meaning “demon,” it adds extreme emphasis, as in “oni-yabai” (鬼やばい)” meaning “super dangerous” or “insanely amazing.”
“kuso” (くそ) – A crude prefix meaning “damn” or “really,” often used for emphasis (e.g., “kuso-atsui” (くそ暑い)—“damn hot”).
“maji” (マジ) – Derived from “majime” (serious), it means “really” or “seriously” (e.g., “maji-de?” (マジで?)—“Seriously?”).

Among these, “meccha” is especially notable for transitioning from regional dialect to mainstream slang, further demonstrating how youth-driven expressions can cross generational and geographic boundaries over time.

A Little Warning#

The ex-wife’s ghost speaks in an old-fashioned manner#

Tamamo, the ghost of Haruyuki’s ex-wife, originally a fox spirit, speaks in an old-fashioned and rough manner, similar to that of a samurai. Please be aware that imitating this speech style in real-life conversations might give the impression that you’re talking like a character from manga or anime.


Work Information#

Book Cover

Koisuru 2DK, Ayakashi Zensai Tsuki. (恋する2DK、あやかし前妻憑き。)

Author: Roku Sakura
Publisher: KADOKAWA

Amount of text: moderate
Challenge level: ★★
Latest volume : Vol.3(Feb.2025 / Completed)

Read this work in Japanese

This Blog’s Concept

In 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.