（だいじょうぶ？／大丈夫？）
🌸 Introduction
Welcome back to the Hero & Heroine Japanese Series,
where emotion meets expression — and anime becomes your Japanese teacher.
Today’s phrase is one you’ll hear in almost every anime episode:
「大丈夫？」(だいじょうぶ？ / Daijoubu?)
= Are you okay? / Is everything alright?
It’s short, simple, but incredibly deep.
Depending on tone and situation, this phrase can mean “Are you hurt?”,
“Can you handle it?”, or even “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
🎬 Scene: After the Battle
The smoke clears. The Hero is kneeling, bruised but still standing.
The Heroine runs toward him, eyes wide with worry.
大丈夫!?
Daijoubu!? / Are you okay!?
……だいじょうぶ、これくらい。
…Daijoubu, it’s nothing.
“これくらい”って、血が出てるじゃない！
“It’s nothing”? You’re bleeding!
ヒーローは簡単に倒れない
Heroes don’t fall that easily.
もう…強がらないでよ
Don’t pretend to be strong all the time…
💡 Word Focus
| 日本語 | Romaji | 英語訳 | ニュアンス |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大丈夫 | daijoubu | okay / alright / fine | 状況によって「平気」「問題ない」「心配いらない」など多義的 |
| 強がる | tsuyogaru | to act tough | 感情を隠す・我慢するイメージ |
| 倒れる | taoreru | to fall / collapse | 物理的にも精神的にも使える |
| 血 | chi | blood | 危険や痛みを象徴する語 |
🧠 Cultural Insight
In Japan, 「大丈夫」 is not just a question — it’s an emotional shield.
It can express kindness, concern, reassurance, or denial depending on context.
| Situation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Asking a friend | “Are you okay?” (concern) |
| Reassuring someone | “I’m fine.” (politeness) |
| Hiding pain | “It’s okay.” (denial or pride) |
In anime, characters often use 「大丈夫」 to hide weakness or show care,
revealing the quiet strength that defines Japanese emotional culture.
💬 Grammar & Expression Breakdown
大丈夫？（Daijoubu?）
- casual question form (no particle)
- same structure as “元気？” (Genki? = How are you?)
大丈夫です（Daijoubu desu）
- polite response: “I’m fine.” / “It’s okay.”
大丈夫じゃない（Daijoubu janai）
- negative: “I’m not okay.” / “Something’s wrong.”
👉 Adding ですか (desu ka) makes it polite:
「大丈夫ですか？」(Daijoubu desu ka?) = Are you alright? (formal tone)
💞 Extended Dialogue
本当に大丈夫？
Are you really okay?
大丈夫だって。
I said I’m fine.
……“だいじょうぶ”って言うときほど、大丈夫じゃないよね
When you say “I’m fine,” that’s usually when you’re not.
……鋭いな。
You’re sharp.
💭 Heroine’s Reflection
「“大丈夫”って言葉は、優しさでもあり、隠すための言葉でもある。」
“Daijoubu” can mean kindness — or a mask to hide your pain.
That’s what makes it one of the most beautiful words in Japanese:
it shows how deeply people care, even when they can’t say everything.
✨ Vocabulary Recap
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大丈夫 | daijoubu | okay / fine |
| 強がる | tsuyogaru | to act tough |
| 倒れる | taoreru | to fall down |
| 優しさ | yasashisa | kindness |
| 隠す | kakusu | to hide |
🏁 Conclusion
Next time you hear a character say 「大丈夫」,
listen closely — they might not be saying “I’m fine,”
but rather “I want you to care.”
💬 「大丈夫？」 isn’t just language — it’s heart.
🔗 Related Posts
👉 [Hero & Heroine #2 — 「力がすべてじゃない」(Power isn’t everything)]
👉 [Dark Hero #1 — 「ヒーローが光なら、オレはその影だ」(If heroes are light, I’ll be the shadow)]
