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Uzumaki Naruto ([Naruto](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruto)) has a catch
phrase "dattebayo". Ika Musume ([Squid
Girl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_Girl)) has a catch phrase "de geso".
Himura Kenshin ([Rurouni Kenshin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_x)) has
a catch phrase "gozaru". And a lot more examples
[here](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/CatchPhrase/Anime).

What is the significance of anime characters' catch phrases?


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What is the significance of anime characters' catch phrases?


Usually they're puns or just included for character. I think the aim behind it
is to make characters more memorable.

Some of these pay off quite nicely for the series - Squid Girl's de-geso~ is
instantly recognizable for fans even outside the show. The usage of it online
or in popular media makes for good promotion for the series.

'de-geso', is a pun on Geso(tentacles) and De-gesu:

> In end of Edo era and beggining of Meiji era, “De-gesu” is used by males of
> the lower class as transformational word of “Desu”.
>
> “Geso” means tentacles of squid. Its article is mainly based on viewpoint of
> cooking. If your intention is to refer to Scientific aspects of squid, you
> would have to choose “Shokusyu” means just tentacle(s).
>
> De-geso is the word combined De-gesu with geso. In the beginning of movie,
> Ika-chan spoke formally (but rudely) as the invader. So it is natural that
> she says manlike and old-fashioned terms like De-gesu. Of course, present
> Japanese don’t use such a word.
>
> Traditionally, characterizing by making original suffix like De-geso was
> common technique in Anime. This is regarded as too facile nowadays.

[De-geso~](http://knowyourmeme.com/forums/meme-research/topics/7130-desu-vs-
de-geso)

[Datebayo](http://forum.minitokyo.net/t14324)

Catchphrases could be used in order to emphasize a particular aspect of the
character - Naruto's "Believe it!" (the frequent English translation) builds
on his lively boisterous character, or in Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei "I'm in
despair", puts focus on the lead's suicidal & depressional tendancies.

[I'm in
Despair!](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=wnkr993wsj4uz3wm7350nyri&page=1)


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There are **2 different things** that you're picking up on: **catch phrases**
proper, versus **copulas**.

Both of these can be utilized in 1) making a character **easy to remember** ,
2) setting the character apart in **contrast to other characters in the same
series** (it is more common for only one character to sport a catch phrase in
a series than for multiple characters to have one), and/or 3) **epitomizing**
something about that character's **qualities**. Meaningless suffixes can
likewise accomplish 1) and 2) but can't fulfill 3).

## Catch Phrases

Naruto's " _datte ba yo_ " is a catch phrase, since it is a stand-alone
sentence that he can say whenever he likes. " _Datte_ " means "because" or
"but," or " _da_ " is an informal copula (the formal version is " _desu_ ") +
"- _tte_ " means someone said it, so all together it could be translated to
something like "'Cuz I say so." "Just 'cuz." "That's what I say." "Isn't it?"
"Word." "Just, yeah." or "Yep."

Kenshin's " _de gozaru_ " is not a catch phrase (see below). His catch phrase
is " _oro_." The mangaka Nobuhiro Watsuki [explained his catch phrase in an
interview](https://rozzychan.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/interview-with-watsuki-
nobuhiro-at-anime-expo-2002/) at AnimeExpo in 2002 (the English is from the
interpreter's on-the-spot translation of his Japanese words):

> Q: What is the origin of “ _Oro_?"
>
> A: I was surprised that it caught on like it did. Because it is just like
> saying “huh” or “uh” or “eh”. I am surprised that Kenshin used it so much,
> and that the fans caught on to it.

A good example of a catch phrase is Abe no Yasuaki's " _Mondai nai_ " (meaning
"It's not a problem") in _Harukanaru Toki no Naka de_ , since it is neither a
verb ending nor a suffix. It is simply a phrase he often uses, which
encapsulates his stoic personality and that as an
[onmyouji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onmy%C5%8Dd%C5%8D) he can handle
pretty much anything.

Minami Mirei's catch phrase in _PriPara_ , ["Pop, Step, Get
You!"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PriPara#Characters), is an interesting
one since she coined it in order to craft an image of herself to project
toward her fans, when in fact its buoyant perkiness does not match her real,
secret personality.

## [Copula: Verb
Endings](http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/reference/grammar/conjugations-of-
the-japanese-copula/)

Kenshin's " _de gozaru_ " is a copula of "de aru" but it is not strictly
associated with him. It is historical from the Edo period and became
[associated with historical series in
general](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/653/if-i-wanted-to-
sound-more-like-a-samurai-what-words-and-phrases-should-i-learn/673#673) in
the minds of Japanese people. Kenshin uses it in a period in which it was not
common, highlighting his [personality as humble and not following the fashion
of the times](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/22460/8134).

Ika Musume's " _degeso_ " is a creative adaption of a copula. It is a play-on-
words (we could call it a pun or _oyaji_ gag), but its intended meaning is to
be simply understood as that of the copula " _degesu_ " (meaning "to be").

Chichiri in _Fushigi Yuugi_ ends sentences with [" _no da_
"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Fushigi_Y%C3%BBgi_characters#Chichiri).
" _Da_ " is the most common and informal form of the copula, but inserting "
_no_ " makes it sound distinct without changing the meaning.

## Suffixes

[Mascots](http://prettycure.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Mascots) in the _Pretty
Cure_ franchise, characters in [_Di Gi
Charat_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di_Gi_Charat), and many other
characters in anime, especially cute ones, tack a meaningless suffix onto
their sentences. Rather than being a catch phrase proper, it is either 1) a
repetition of part of their own name, 2) part of the name of something else in
the series, or 3) a syllable or two that sound cute to the Japanese ear.

Minami Mirei in _PriPara_ (mentioned above) appends the suffix "- _puri!_ "
onto many of her sentences in order to sound cutesy.


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