Anya’s “waku waku!” might be the most quoted line in anime right now — but what does it actually mean, and is it real Japanese you could say out loud? I’m a Japanese teacher, and in this guide we’ll go through the most famous Spy x Family quotes in Japanese — Anya, Loid and Yor — with accurate original text, rōmaji and English. The best part: because Anya talks like a small child, her lines are some of the most genuinely usable Japanese in any anime.
Can-you-use-it legend: ◎ = natural everyday Japanese · △ = casual/childish, watch the context · ✗ = anime only, odd in real life.
Anya’s words: the most usable Japanese in anime
| Japanese | Rōmaji | English | Use it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| わくわく | Waku waku | (so excited) I can’t wait! | ◎ Real, everyday onomatopoeia |
| おなかすいた。 | Onaka suita. | I’m hungry. | ◎ Everyday essential |
| ピーナッツがすき。 | Pīnattsu ga suki. | I like peanuts. | ◎ ~がすき is a core pattern |
| すごい！ | Sugoi! | Amazing! / Wow! | ◎ Used constantly |
| ちち・はは | Chichi / Haha | (my) father / mother | △ Humble form — see note |
Teacher’s note — why “waku waku” is real Japanese: わくわく (waku waku) is a genuine onomatopoeia for a heart bubbling with excitement — Japanese is full of these paired-sound words. Its cousin is どきどき (doki doki), the pounding-heart of nerves or a crush. Both are ◎ and used by adults every day: 明日が楽しみでわくわくする (“I’m so excited for tomorrow”). Anya isn’t speaking baby-talk here — she’s using the language exactly the way real Japanese people do.
The one to be careful with — ちち / はは: Anya calls her parents ちち (chichi) and はは (haha). These are the humble words you use when telling other people about your own father and mother — not what you’d normally call them to their face. A child would usually say パパ・ママ or お父さん・お母さん (otōsan / okāsan). It’s a lovely detail: Anya’s Japanese is charmingly a little too formal for her age. Learn the pair — ちち/はは (my own, humble) vs. お父さん/お母さん (polite, anyone’s) — and you’ve learned a real rule of Japanese politeness.
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Loid, Yor & the family-mission vocabulary
| Japanese | Rōmaji | English | Use it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 家族 | Kazoku | family | ◎ Essential word |
| おともだちできた？ | O-tomodachi dekita? | Did you make a friend? | ◎ Warm, natural |
| 任務 | Ninmu | mission | ◎ Real word (formal/spy) |
| がんばります。 | Ganbarimasu. | I’ll do my best. | ◎ Everyday polite |
| いい子だ。 | Ii ko da. | Good kid. | ◎ Gentle praise |
Teacher’s note — the 家族 (kazoku) word family: The whole show is about building a 家族, and the kanji 家 (ka / ie) means “house / home.” You’ll meet it everywhere: 家 (ie, house), 家族 (kazoku, family), 作家 (sakka, author). Notice おともだちできた？ too: できる (dekiru) here doesn’t mean “can” — it means “came into being / was made.” 友達ができた = “a friend was made (I made a friend).” That’s a pattern you’ll reuse forever: 時間ができた (“I got some free time”), 恋人ができた (“I got a partner”).
The spy word — 任務 (ninmu): Loid’s 任務, “mission,” is a real, slightly formal word (the everyday version is お仕事, o-shigoto, “work”). It’s ◎ but serious — you’d hear it from soldiers, agents and, well, spies. Perfect for a dramatic Operation Strix moment; a bit much for “I have to do the dishes.”
Anime Spy x Family Japanese vs. real Japanese
Here’s the good news for learners: Spy x Family is one of the friendliest anime to learn from. Anya’s lines are short, present-tense and full of the exact patterns beginners need — ~がすき (I like ~), ~できた (~ was made), おなかすいた (I’m hungry). Almost none of it is rough or rude. The only things to file away are her cutely over-formal ちち/はは and her habit of referring to herself by name (アーニャは…) instead of わたし — a very small-child speech pattern, adorable from a five-year-old, odd from a teenager.
Steal Anya’s vocabulary, drop the third-person and the humble ちち/はは, and you’re left with clean, usable everyday Japanese. The fastest way to lock it in? Say わくわく and おなかすいた to a real Japanese friend and watch them grin — those words are 100% real.
Frequently asked questions
What does Anya’s “waku waku” mean?
わくわく (waku waku) is a real Japanese onomatopoeia for feeling excited and thrilled — a heart fluttering with anticipation. It’s ◎ everyday Japanese, and adults use it too: わくわくする means “to feel excited.”
Is Spy x Family good for learning Japanese?
Very. Anya speaks in short, clear, present-tense sentences packed with beginner-friendly grammar, and the tone is warm rather than rough. See our guide to learning Japanese with anime and our list of the best anime to learn Japanese for beginners.
Why does Anya say “chichi” and “haha”?
ちち (chichi) and はは (haha) are the humble words for “my father / my mother” you use when speaking about them to others. A small child would normally say パパ/ママ or お父さん/お母さん, so Anya’s choice is charmingly formal. It’s actually a great way to remember the humble-vs-polite family words.
Where can my child practise these with real Japanese friends?
At TOMODACHI JAPAN, kids join small-group classes with peers who live in Japan and real Japanese teachers — so words like わくわく and すごい get used, corrected and turned into real conversation. See our plans and pricing.
