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I don't understand the joke behind "opposite of seme" scene. Can you please
explain it to me?

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/7rSzo.jpg)  
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hi0wr.jpg)  
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zqXFu.jpg)  
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vypIb.jpg)


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2014-10-09T23:53:27.580
14364
2016-08-22T09:36:16.273
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question
japanese-language danna-wakaranai-ken
What is the opposite of "seme" according to otakus?


This is a reference to _yaoi_ sex positions. _Seme_ is the Japanese term for
the dominant partner (usually on top), while the _uke_ ("opposite" of _seme_ )
is the submissive partner, usually on the bottom.

This is also a pun in Japanese. _Seme_ (same _kanji_ ) is another word for
"offense" or "attacker". The opposite of which would be "defense".

So, I'm guessing the joke here is basically that Kaoru is perhaps
"excessively" normal, since she is so pure she isn't even aware of _yaoi_ sex
terms.


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2014-10-10T00:23:50.670
14365
2014-10-10T17:03:29.807
2014-10-10T17:03:29.807
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answer


  * "seme" is a noun derived from the verb "semeru" which means "to attack".
  * The expected opposite is probably "uke", derived from "ukeru" meaning "to receive".
  * what Kaoru said was "mamori", derived from "mamoru", "to protect". 
  * Seme and uke are most commonly used in martial arts to describe the roles in a move: the seme is the person who takes the initiative and attacks, while the uke is the one who is attacked, so it might also be translated as "defender" - but in many (perhaps most) cases also the one who ends up "winning" because martial arts often have turning an attacker's actions against them as a major component.
  * Yaoi fans have adapted these terms to describe the roles in a male/male relationship: the seme is the one who takes the traditional male role: initiates the relationship, "pursues" the uke and is usually "on top" during sex. This can get ridiculously codified and outright heteronormative, e.g. the seme has to be taller and stronger, not show their emotions, etc. The "uke ends up winning" aspect may or may not be relevant.
  * An otaku would know this, a normal Japanese person may not, but would understand the usage in context.
  * Kaoru's answer seems to show that she is aware of neither usage, and I guess semantically choosing "mamori" as opposite of "seme" sounds kinda sweetly naive given the alternatives.
  * A factor might be that the only common use of "mamori" as a noun which I'm aware of is in the honorific "O-mamori", talismans that one can buy for a few hundred yen in shrines or temples and which promise health, success in business or studying, safe birth, etc.


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2014-10-10T13:55:15.430
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2016-08-22T09:36:16.273
2016-08-22T09:36:16.273
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answer