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yumeka-sxf · 1 day

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Japanese Linguistic Observations in Spy x Family - part 3

Part 3 - Yor's keigo

I discussed in part 1 about the different levels of speech in Japanese, particularly how Twilight changes his speech depending on the persona he's donning. He uses keigo, the standard polite form of speech, when he's acting as Loid Forger, but uses casual speech as Twilight. Yor, however, uses keigo all the time, to a degree that some would feel is excessive, but also makes sense for her character.

Keigo is the most basic form of polite speech in Japanese. It's the speech that's taught in pretty much every beginner Japanese learning course because it's the "safest" for most situations. Without getting too technical, it basically involves using the polite conjugations of verbs. All verbs in Japanese have a "polite" conjugation form that's used in keigo. For example, the verb "to go," 行く (iku), will change to 行きます (ikimasu): change the く(ku) to き (ki) and add -ます (-masu). -masu itself is then conjugated further to show past tense, negative tense, etc. Likewise, one would use です (desu) as the "to be" verb instead of its casual equivalent だ (da). For example, saying 車です (kuruma desu), which means "there is a car" instead of 車だ (kuruma da). It's even more casual to leave out the "to be" verb altogether.

Unlike Twilight, who changes his speech depending on who he's talking to or which facade he's using, Yor consistently uses keigo, whether she's talking to an adult like Loid, a child like Anya, and even an animal like Bond. She uses keigo with strangers as well, even those who are antagonistic to her, like the other assassins in the cruise arc.

Even at times when using polite speech isn't warranted, like in her own thoughts, she still uses keigo regardless.

In addition to using keigo with pretty much everyone, she also uses the polite -さん (-san) honorific with everyone's names as well. It's not unusual to do this with fellow adults like Loid, Camilla, and Franky, but when it comes to kids, especially when they're not your own kids, other honorifics are also an option. For example, adults can use the honorifics -ちゃん (-chan) for little girls and -くん (-kun) for little boys, both of which denote endearment to someone young/cute. Loid calls Damian "Damian-kun" and Fiona calls Anya "Anya-chan" for example. But Yor uses "-san" for Anya, Damian, Becky, and probably every other kid she hasn't met yet! She uses "-san" with animals as well, which isn't nearly as common. She's the only one who calls Bond "Bond-san" and she even called the cat Kopi from chapter 43, "Kopi-san."

She also uses "-san" for people whose names she doesn't know, and in some cases, probably shouldn't show respect to. She calls the terrorists from the doggy crisis arc "terrorist-san", bad guys that she takes out on her missions "warumono-san," Olka's group "mafia-san," and the other assassins from the cruise arc "koroshiya-san."

The only exception to Yor's excessive use of keigo is Yuri, which makes sense since it's standard practice to be more casual with a younger relative than an older relative or someone outside the family. He's the only person she refers to without "-san" (she just calls him "Yuri"). And while she does use the informal verb forms with him, she still uses "desu" and its conjugations. So overall, she's more casual with him, but not completely so.

When talking about herself, Yor uses the standard, gender-neutral, polite word for "I"/"me," 私 (watashi). However, when talking to others, she never uses any form of "you." Like I mentioned in part 1 about how there's different ways of saying "I" and "me" in Japanese depending on the speech level, the same is true for "you." But it's always more polite to say someone's name or title instead of "you," and Yor does that all the time. Just like in part 2 how I couldn't recall any instance where Anya says "I" or "me" since she always refers to herself in third person, I can't recall any time Yor called someone "you" instead of saying their name or title.

While Loid uses the casual "you" word お前 (omae) when talking to Anya, Bond, Franky, and anyone else he doesn't have to be polite with, he doesn't use any form of "you" for Yor. He speaks to her the same way she does to him – saying her name plus "-san" instead of using "you."

Unlike English, Japanese is a language where you don't have to say pronouns if it's understood by the context, which is why something like this is difficult to convey in a translation.

I think it's an interesting contrast that Twilight is constantly changing how he speaks depending on whether he's acting as Loid Forger, as a spy, whether he's conversing with a fellow spy like Fiona, a casual friend like Franky, someone he respects but can't be fully open with like Yor, and even how he talks to himself in his head…yet Yor is the total opposite. As I've discussed in this post, she's extremely consistent in her speech, never straying from being polite no matter who she's speaking to or whether she's in her Thorn Princess role or not, or even whether she's speaking to herself in her head or not. This just further proves that, while Yor has to keep her assassin job a secret, she doesn't have to create a fake persona for it. Unlike Twilight, who acts one way as a spy and another way as Loid Forger, and perhaps another as his "true" self, Yor doesn't feel the need to hide anything about herself other than her job as an assassin – Thorn Princess and Yor Forger are the same person who shows respect for others no matter what her relationship is with them.

Such excessive use of keigo is odd for a fluent speaker, but it's not unheard of. There are plenty of examples of characters from other anime/manga who use keigo all the time too. I think it gives us an interesting, subtle look into their character. In Yor's case, I think her constant use of keigo comes from a combination of her sweet personality that never wants to offend anyone, but also her poor self-esteem. After all, keigo and other polite forms of Japanese speech are meant to elevate the listener while humbling the speaker. Yor speaks politely to everyone because she simply wants to be kind to everyone and make them feel comfortable, even those she has to kill, but at the same time, she often feels inferior to others.

However, there are rare exceptions where Yor stops using keigo which are, appropriately, during very suspenseful, high-stakes moments where politeness would be the least of her worries. For example, during her fight with Barnaby when she realizes she's holding back, she starts using casual speech. But she goes back to keigo before too long.

But probably the most notable example of her completely dropping keigo is near the end of her big battle against the assassins on the cruise ship, where she finally comes to realize what she's fighting for. During her whole epiphany scene – starting from when she thinks of Yuri and herself as kids until she stands up and says she won't stop fighting – she switches completely to casual speech.

There are many ways to interpret this, but I think it shows what an emotional revelation this was for her: she remembered that the suffering in the world is what caused her to want to protect Yuri from any kind of tragedy, and now the same can be said for Loid, Anya, and Bond. She remembered the words of acceptance she heard from Loid when they first met, words no one else had likely ever said to her before. She realized that she didn't care what happened to her as long as she could stop anything bad from happening to her loved ones – in that moment, no formalities were necessary with such intense self-reflection.

<- Return to Part 2

#sxf #spy x family #spy family #spyxfamily #loid forger #yor forger #anya forger #twiyor #sxf manga #sxf analysis #sxf manga spoilers #sxf meta

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tare-anime · 3 days

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Bowel discomfort has become one of the longest running gag in SxF

And it has been used as one effective excuses everywhere.

Twilight has been doing it first (iirc)

And of course as a kid who copy her parents, Anya has learned about the efficiency of the excuse and has said it

Damian also has used it in such a dire situation

Even a veteran class assassin such as McMahon also has use the same tactic

And for those who has watch the movie Code White, Endo himself has created an OC to be played out by the anime team, and at the most beautiful animation scene at the movie nonetheless (a bit too long for my taste but still hillarious).

Behold, the God of Poop himself

(Credit to @yumeka-sxf for her post here)

So we get it. It's a common thing in SxF.

But, please Endo..... for the love of heaven, DO NOT make Yor spit out ANY of these kind of jokes or excuse or whatever. Nope. No. Just no.

Please, Endo. I'm begging you.

This is shitpost.

But also in serious note please don't let Yor ever said it. Please.....

#spy x family #anya forger #loid forger #yor forger #matthew mcmahon #damian desmond #sxf code white #sxf movie #code white #spy x family code white #sxf manga #sxf manga spoilers #shit post #sxf opinion #kinda

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spyxfamilycontents0 · 3 days

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Looks like They're getting married guys! maybe for real? kyaaaah~!!!!! <333333

They looks like giving them their blessing too XD <33333~!!!! Also Damien i am watching out for you! recently i been like really needing an jobs i was like job hunting like loid XD

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1alchemistart · 2 months

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HEHE NEW CHAPTER

tbh if they end up dancing im going to expect them to be goofy JKAKLSDFK but waltz drawing OBLIGATORY obv

have this little anya too

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aerequets · 2 months

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i think it equally plausible that yor did her hair, however this is also Cute

#spy x family #my art #loid forger #yor forger #sxf #anya forger #spoilers? not really #chapter 95 #sxf manga #spy x family manga

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lydia-ling · 6 months

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I'm at SPYxFamily ch 85 and I drew this because I'm growing old waiting for a Twilight vs Thorn Princess set up. It will happen one day, right? :( (Read left to right >>>)

#spy x family #fancomic #yor forger #loid forger #fanart #twilight #thorn princess #sxf manga #sxf #yuri briar #bond forger

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jesterraconteuse · 1 month

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You know I'm right

#spy x family manga 96 #spy x family #spy x family manga #spy x family spoilers #spy x family manga spoilers #spy x family chapter 96 #anya forger #damian desmond #sxf #sxf manga #sxf spoilers #loid forger #agent twilight

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littleholmes · 1 month

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“Yes. I can read people’s minds.”

That is major that Anya even told anyone, let alone Damian, that she can read minds. I’m just amazed. But also it’s a good thing he didn’t believe her because if he did? 😬

#sxf #sxf 96 #spy x family #anya forger #damian desmond #sxf manga spoilers #now to wait for this to come back bc it absolutely will and at the worst possible moment #sxf manga #sxf thoughts #spy x family manga #spy x family manga spoilers

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lotsofblabblers · 3 months

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Agent Twilight. Westalis' top spy.

Can't win an argument with his baby daughter.

#spy x family #spy x family manga #spy x family spoilers #loid forger #sxf spoilers #spy x family manga spoilers #spy x family manga spoiler #yor forger #sxf manga #anya forger #he is so domesticated 🤣

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aizawasdumbwhore · 6 months

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no TV show in the world captures the essence of owning a large dog the way Spy x Family does. bc I also have to step over my large dog bc she insists on walking in my path whenever possible.

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rafaron1223 · 23 days

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This was supposed to be an April Fools' Day post, but I got busy and missed it 🫠 I like how it turned out so I'll post it anyways.

There were a bunch of outfits of other characters that I wanted to see the Forgers wear (I also got an excuse to draw skinny Bond with this), so that's what I did.

#spy x family #sxf #sxf fanart #loid forger #yor forger #anya forger #bond forger #sxf art #sxf manga #spy x family fanart #my art #fan art

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yumeka-sxf · 6 hours

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Hey!! I love all your analysis posts, especially the Japanese dialogues analysis ones you have been doing!! They are really really interesting and provide such an insight to the characters which just does not translate to English. Just wanted to appreciate that and thank you for doing it !!!!

I was also wondering whether during the mind reveal scene of anya in the latest arc— does she refer to herself in first person or does she continue with the third person? Yk the main scene when she reveals to Damian that she can read minds

Thank you so much, I'm glad you like my analysis posts 😊

As for your question, nope, Anya still refers to herself in third person when she reveals her secret to Damian.

She says アーニャこころよめる (Anya kokoro yomeru) which means "Anya can read minds."

#spy x family #sxf #spy family #spyxfamily #anya forger #damian desmond #damianya #sxf manga #sxf manga spoilers #sxf spoilers

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drearyrie · 2 months

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SXF95: class gala!

i bet yor was so elated while fixing anya up like oh my word. loid must have done something so heroic in his past life to be blessed with a daughter as beautiful as you, dear anya! and anya was like heehee mama’s praising starlight anya! maybe starlight anya really is the prettiest girl in the world! i don’t think i’ll get over them GOD

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1alchemistart · 1 month

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some doodles!!!!

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aerequets · 8 months

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me: haha make an alternate ending of ch 87 where loid was jealous and wanted to be brushed by yor

my hands: but what if its sad as well

#this got completely out of hand if im being honest #why the hell did i draw so much #my art #spy x family #loid forger #yor forger #sxf #twiyor #my comic #anya forger #sxf loid #franky franklin #bond forger #sxf yor #sxf spoilers #spy x family spoilers #sxf manga #spy x family chapter 87 #sxf chapter 87

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anishake · 1 month

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I've seen some readers questioning Endo's decision of making Anya confess her abilities to Damian when there's Becky, Loid and Yor. But hold it, it actually does make a LOT of sense.

I think most of us missed how much relatable Damian is to Anya. She sees through his loneliness and it reminds her of when she was alone and wishing for a happy family. And there's this other huge factor - for both of them, their main motivators in life are their fathers.

During the 96th chapter, you can see Anya having a wishful face when she says Papa is Damian's favorite person. And Damian's vulnerable admission about her family put the final nail in Anya's perception. At that moment she felt like Damian would understand her and accept her no matter what and it was an amazing and the best subtle build-up ever.

Endo, you are amazing 👏

#damianya #sxf #damian desmond #anya forger #spy x family #sxf chapter 96 #sxf spoilers #sxf manga #loid forger #mine

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