The ninjas that say "nin!"

tenshi_a · November 6th, 2006, 11:54 AM

I wasn't sure where to ask this question... since it's a generic dumbass question... but... in the videogame series "Dead Or Alive" and "Disgaea", and also in anime like "2x2=Shinobuden", there are ninjas that go "nin". As in, they say it.

"nin! nin! nin!"

And I don't know... whether it's for comedy value (probably?), or it's a word that actually means something ("nin" as in "ningen"?), or it's a sound effect... why do these distinct and separate fictional ninjas go "nin"?

Suiko Eiji · November 6th, 2006, 12:07 PM

I would say comedic value; which means how the scripts were written, it was written out in hiragana or katakana with only the value of the pun, not meaning anything, really. It is probably based on the first of the two kanji in ninja, "nin".

If I were to guess a source, I would cite Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Knights Who Say "Ne!". Even then, I'm pulling something out of reletively thin air, so I wouldn't really quote this citation as gospel.

Soluzar · November 6th, 2006, 12:52 PM

The thing is, Ryu Hayabusa from DoA isn't really a comedic character, and he still says it - and in a very serious voice, too. I always find it generates considerable cognitive dissonance to hear such a serious character say something that I can't help but find amusing. There's no indication whatsoever that there's a joke to be found in it, but then if it's extremely common within Japan, it wouldn't need any explanation to be funny.

Suiko Eiji · November 6th, 2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soluzar

The thing is, Ryu Hayabusa from DoA isn't really a comedic character, and he still says it - and in a very serious voice, too.

Ah, - and it is the same Hayabusa from the Ninja Gaiden games...

Then, to be honest, without an audio clip, I'm stumped. I would imagine that something along the lines of Disgaea and definately 2x2 Shinobuden it would be for comedic value.

Animematt55 · November 6th, 2006, 01:28 PM

I remember hearign something on this...It is like a mantra or something, liek a prayer.
Remember the Rin, Pyo,...retsu, etc? Rei from Sailor Moon also says that. I think it has somethign to do with that.

tenshi_a · November 6th, 2006, 01:38 PM

Ah, like Yoshimitsu in Soul Calibur / Tekken going "namu namu namu"... that's a religious mantra that gets mistaken for comedy too...

I looked up "nin" in an online dictionary just now (oh, why didn't I do that to start with?) and found an archaic use of "nin":

which apparently means "endurance; forbearance". Plus it looks like the kanji that means "knife" over the kanji that means "heart"!!

Soluzar · November 6th, 2006, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suiko Eiji

Ah, - and it is the same Hayabusa from the Ninja Gaiden games...

Then, to be honest, without an audio clip, I'm stumped.

I have a clear memory of him saying it, but now that I've loaded up one of the games, he doesn't seem inclined to gratify me by saying "Nin!" at all. Does anyone else remember this?

EDIT: Yeah, he says it on the boss stage. I have no idea why. I suppose Tenshi_A's explanation is pretty convincing, since it is (in story terms) the hardest fight he's likely to go into.

m_fugue · November 6th, 2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenshi_a

"nin! nin! nin!"

The phrase "nin nin!" is most likely from this popular ninja character by Fujiko Fujio.

tenshi_a · November 7th, 2006, 12:43 AM

yay! ninja hattori-kun!

I'd temporarily forgotten that even existed...

;;

Ninja de gozaru.

Suiko Eiji · November 7th, 2006, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenshi_a

Ah, like Yoshimitsu in Soul Calibur / Tekken going "namu namu namu"... that's a religious mantra that gets mistaken for comedy too...

I looked up "nin" in an online dictionary just now (oh, why didn't I do that to start with?) and found an archaic use of "nin":

which apparently means "endurance; forbearance". Plus it looks like the kanji that means "knife" over the kanji that means "heart"!!

Not necessarily archaic - that's the first kanji in "ninja".

November 6th, 2006, 11:54 AM	#1
tenshi_a The beginning of a fantastic story! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cave of Monsters, England Posts: 8,666	The ninjas that say "nin!" I wasn't sure where to ask this question... since it's a generic dumbass question... but... in the videogame series "Dead Or Alive" and "Disgaea", and also in anime like "2x2=Shinobuden", there are ninjas that go "nin". As in, they say it. "nin! nin! nin!" And I don't know... whether it's for comedy value (probably?), or it's a word that actually means something ("nin" as in "ningen"?), or it's a sound effect... why do these distinct and separate fictional ninjas go "nin"?

November 6th, 2006, 12:07 PM	#2
Suiko Eiji I'm very honeybadger on the matter Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Atlanta市 GA州 USA/米国 Posts: 3,444	I would say comedic value; which means how the scripts were written, it was written out in hiragana or katakana with only the value of the pun, not meaning anything, really. It is probably based on the first of the two kanji in ninja, "nin". If I were to guess a source, I would cite Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Knights Who Say "Ne!". Even then, I'm pulling something out of reletively thin air, so I wouldn't really quote this citation as gospel. __________________ Now if you'll excuse me, I need to evict some juvenile delinquents from my yard. MyAnimeList KT Kore: [TA12] called Suiko Eiji a jackass [...] Suiko Eiji: In TA12's defense, I am a jackass. KT Kore: You're an awesome jackass though.

November 6th, 2006, 12:52 PM	#3
Soluzar Double rainbow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: All the way across the sky... Posts: 13,579 Blog Entries: 45	The thing is, Ryu Hayabusa from DoA isn't really a comedic character, and he still says it - and in a very serious voice, too. I always find it generates considerable cognitive dissonance to hear such a serious character say something that I can't help but find amusing. There's no indication whatsoever that there's a joke to be found in it, but then if it's extremely common within Japan, it wouldn't need any explanation to be funny. __________________ One day men will ask... "Where did it start?" We shall tell them it started here. Join the ranks of Team Soluzar! Protect the forum against the threat of unexpected Prons incursions. Your forum needs YOU.

November 7th, 2006, 12:43 AM	#9
tenshi_a The beginning of a fantastic story! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cave of Monsters, England Posts: 8,666	yay! ninja hattori-kun! I'd temporarily forgotten that even existed... ;; Ninja de gozaru. Last edited by tenshi_a; November 7th, 2006 at 03:03 AM.

November 6th, 2006, 01:28 PM	#5
Animematt55 Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 4,314	I remember hearign something on this...It is like a mantra or something, liek a prayer. Remember the Rin, Pyo,...retsu, etc? Rei from Sailor Moon also says that. I think it has somethign to do with that.

November 6th, 2006, 01:38 PM	#6
tenshi_a The beginning of a fantastic story! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cave of Monsters, England Posts: 8,666	Ah, like Yoshimitsu in Soul Calibur / Tekken going "namu namu namu"... that's a religious mantra that gets mistaken for comedy too... I looked up "nin" in an online dictionary just now (oh, why didn't I do that to start with?) and found an archaic use of "nin": which apparently means "endurance; forbearance". Plus it looks like the kanji that means "knife" over the kanji that means "heart"!!