Tsundere

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Tsundere (ツンデレ?) (pronounced /(t)sʌnˈdɪə(r)/ in English or /t͡sun.de.ɽe/ in Japanese) is a Japanese concept of a character archetype which describes a person with a conceited, irritable, and/or violent personality that suddenly becomes modest and loving when triggered by some sort of cause (such as being alone with someone). It can also describe a contradictory personality which is good-willed on the inside, but with a harsh attitude on the outside. Originally found in Japanese bishōjo games, the word is now part of the otaku moe phenomenon, reaching into other media such as anime, manga, novels, and even mass media.

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[edit] Terminology

Tsundere is an Internet slang word that has a remarkable subdivision structure; usage rules vary accordingly. Therefore, the term is not elaborately defined as to what character types can be described as tsundere; the term transcends gender and species. The definition is often subjected to the creator's point of view.

Tsundere is a portmanteau of the two words tsuntsun (ツンツン?), and deredere (デレデレ?). Tsuntsun is defined as "aloof, morose, pointed", and deredere is defined as "exhausted, lovestruck".[1] Tsunderekko (ツンデレっ娘?) is a related noun, referring to a girl with a tsundere personality. Like nekomimi, tsundere is considered a moe-inspiring character trait.[2] The concept has received increasing attention in Japan, with a tsundere cafe opened in Akihabara[note 1] and tsundere-themed products released (like Tomy Co.'s portable television set),[note 2] and the concept increasingly reflected in recent anime, from an extended discussion of the meaning of the concept and its origin on the internet in Lucky Star's Lucky Channel segment to merchandise for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya classifying the characters according to tsundere-ness. Another accepted definition of tsundere is a girl who has a combative attitude toward others but is also kind on the inside. She usually plays out as having an attitude toward the main character, usually a male, and often criticizing him in one way or another, but as the series progresses she eventually warms up to him and sometimes even falls in love with him.

One of the earliest examples of a tsundere is Sayaka Yumi from Mazinger Z. While this tsundere is a generally kind girl, she is initially resistant to accept romantic overtures and turns cold when the lead male Koji starts showing interest in other girls, and is known to sometimes become physically aggressive towards him.

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[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "In Tokyo's Akihabara district there is already reportedly a "tsundere cafe", and the word "tsunderera", which resembles the Japanese for "Cinderella" in katakana, was nominated for a prize in the 2006 fashionable word awards, indicating that "tsundere" culture may become more prominent in the future." February 2, "Toymaker introduces portable TV with harsh audio guidance that gradually gets kinder" in the Mainichi Times.
  2. ^ "Toy manufacturer Tomy Co. has come up with the world's first "tsundere" portable television set, which gives audio guidance with a harsh voice that gradually becomes kinder as the user gets used to the set....'Tsundere' is a word for a type of feminine personality that is initially uptight and cold, and then kind and loving. It is well known among Japan's otaku community, and ranks in popularity with the word 'moe', which signifies an enthusiasm or fetish for something, especially in connection with anime." February 2, Mainichi

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