The highly skilled assassin girl is proficient in polite Japanese.
３分用心棒ヨコちゃん
In this blog, we present manga that are not only highly captivating but also ideal for Japanese language learners. Studying Japanese through manga is both fun and effective. Manga allows you to understand the subtleties of keigo (honorifics), teineigo (polite speech), and casual conversation in Japanese.
Today's featured manga
Story overview
"I'll definitely protect you—for just three minutes." Jose, the son of a wealthy businessman, is often targeted by thugs in the city targeting him for his wealth. He has hired Yoko-chan, a beautiful and cool bodyguard. Unfortunately, he can only hire Yoko-chan for three minutes a day. Will Jose's feelings reach her pure heart, as she absolutely refuses to work overtime?
A hilarious three-minute comedy featuring a super cute bodyguard and a cheeky wealthy son!
Why this manga is suitable for learning Japanese
This work, a frustratingly slow-burning master-servant romantic comedy that depicts the chaotic daily life of Jose, a wealthy young man, and Yoko-chan, a cute yet formidable bodyguard who strictly refuses to work overtime, is suitable for Japanese learners for the following reasons.
The bodyguard Yoko-chan maintains polite language towards her employer, Jose.
The bodyguard Yoko-chan always responds to her employer, Jose, in polite Japanese. While some expressions may seem overly polite compared to typical business etiquette, the majority are polite language expressions in Japanese that can be used comfortably in everyday conversation.
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3funyojimbo Yoko-chan / Susano Hara / Sino Sakamoto / Core Mix
You can simultaneously acquire examples of both casual and polite Japanese conversation.
Jose, another main character, converses with Yoko-chan in casual Japanese.
By referring to the conversations between the two, readers can learn contemporary casual Japanese expressions as well as polite Japanese expressions simultaneously.
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3funyojimbo Yoko-chan / Susano Hara / Sino Sakamoto / Core Mix
Some points to note
Please do not imitate set phrases.
The expression "ご下命をなんなりと" that Yoko-chan uses when addressing Jose in her introductory scene is a highly polite Japanese expression, and it is not very suitable for everyday conversation. "下命" means to receive orders or instructions. While it may be used in business settings, the more common expression in such cases is "ご用命ください". In recent years, it has become a phrase commonly seen in period dramas and the like.
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3funyojimbo Yoko-chan / Susano Hara / Sino Sakamoto / Core Mix
It's "ヨコちゃん", not "ヨーコちゃん".
This is the name of the heroine in this work and is also used in the title, "ヨコちゃん", but when translated into English, it becomes "Yoko-chan".
From the expression "Yoko-chan", you might get the impression of names like "陽子ちゃん", "洋子ちゃん", "ようこちゃん", "ヨウコちゃん", or "よーこちゃん", "ヨーコちゃん", but that's incorrect.
In the work itself, as of the time of writing this blog, the origin of the name "ヨコちゃん" has not been revealed. To native Japanese speakers, the name "ヨコちゃん" gives the impression of affectionately calling a woman named "横沢さん" as "横ちゃん".
Data
* Title : 3funyojimbo yokochan
(３分用心棒ヨコちゃん)
* Story : Susano Hara
* Art : Sino Sakamoto
* Publisher : Core Mix
* Latest volume : Vol.1
（Feb.2024 / Ongoing）
* Text volume : moderate
* Challenge level : ★★
Tips for procuring works
Why BOOK☆WALKER is the go-to for enjoying manga in Japanese - Oshikuda
In this article, you'll find insights on how to get your hands on your favorite Japanese manga titles...
