Eikichi Onizuka’s Quote “Kids Should Be Smiling Like How Kids Always Do”

  • Post category:Anime
  • Post comments:2 Comments

Let’s learn Japanese with Eikichi Onizuka’s quote from GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka).

Video

Eikichi Onizuka’s Quote

Japanese: ガキはガキらしくよ、ニカーッと笑っていこうや。
Romaji: gaki wa gaki rashiku yo, nikātto waratte ikō ya.
English: Kids should be smiling like how kids always do.

Analysis

ガキ means “a kid” or “brat” in a rough way.

は is the particle which indicates the topic of the sentence.

らしく following a noun means “just like” or “just like how one always does” which is used to express something that the speaker thinks it’s a typical characteristic of someone or something. So ガキらしく means “just like kids” or “just like how kids always do”. 

The particle よ in the middle of a sentence is used to make the tone strong, rough and manly.

ニカーッ is an onomatopoeia which expresses a grin or wide smile. The と particle following an onomatopoeia works as an adverb and explains a condition or way of being that exists at a particular time. For instance, if you use the onomatopoeia コロコロ with the verb 転がる meaning “to roll” which makes コロコロと転がる it expresses that something light is rolling but if it’s ゴロゴロと転がる it expresses something heavy is rolling. In this sentence, the verb modified with the adverb ニカーッと is 笑って which is the te-form of 笑う meaning “to smile” so ニカーッと笑う means “to smile widely“.

And a verb te-form followed by いこう means “should be doing something” used to express a suggestion or request in an encouraging and supportive way. So the verb usually has a positive meaning.

や is the sentence ending particle used by men when persuading equals or inferiors to do something in a rough and vulgar manner. It’s usually used with a verb volitional or imperative form.

Examples

Noun + らしく (just like/just like how one always does)

あぐらをかかないで。おんならしくすわりなさい。

agura o kakanai de. onnanoko rashiku suwari nasai.

Don’t sit cross-legged. Sit like how girls should.

生徒せいと友達ともだちのようになかがいいけど、授業中じゅぎょうちゅう先生せんせいらしくっている。

seito to tomodachi no yō ni naka ga ii kedo, jugyō chū wa sensei rashiku furumatte iru.

I am close to my students like friends but I act like a teacher in class.

はるらしくあたたかくて心地ここちよいかぜいてるね。

haru rashiku, atatakakute kokochiyoi kaze ga fuiteru ne.

The warm soothing breeze is blowing like how it should be in spring.

NOTE

らしく works as an adverb and らしい works as an adjective:

なつらしい服装ふくそうだね。

natsu rashii fukusō dane.

It’s a very summery fashion.

Difference Between らしい and のよう (casual: みたい):
  • Noun + らしい is used for something that is expectedly what it should be like (Typical).
  • Noun + のよう (みたい) is used for something that looks like something different (Metaphor).

はるらしい天気てんきだ。 – The weather is just like spring (and it IS spring).

はるのよう (春みたい) な天気てんきだ。 – It feels like spring (even though it’s NOT spring).

山田やまださんはおとこらしい。- Yamada-san is manly (and he IS a man).

山田やまださんはおとこのよう (男みたい) だ。- Yamada-san is like a man (but Yamada-san is NOT a man).

Onomatopoeia + と (explains a condition or way of being that exists at a particular time)

そのおんなはいつもニコニコと微笑ほほえんでいる。

sono onnanoko wa itsumo nikoniko to hohoende iru.

The girl always has a cheery smile.

いきなりブワッとつよかぜいた

ikinari buwatto tsuyoi kaze ga fuita.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew.

暗闇くらやみなかなにかがキラッとひかった。

kurayami no naka de nanika ga kiratto hikatta.

Something shined in the dark.

Verb Te-Form + いこう (expresses a suggestion or request in an encouraging and supportive way)

うつむかずに、いつもかおげていこうよ。

utsumukazu ni, itsumo kao o agete ikō yo.

Don’t look down, always keep your head up.

いててきたおし、ゲームをクリアしていこう

ochitsuite teki o taoshi, gēmu o kuria shite ikō.

Let’s be calm and defeat the enemies to clear the game.

過去かこではなく、未来みらいかってあるいていこう

kako dewa naku, mirai ni mukatte aruite ikō.

You should be walking towards the future, not the past.

NOTE

いこう is the volitional form of いく meaning “to go” and “Verb Te-Form + いく” indicates that the action is ongoing towards the future, which makes it sound encouraging and supportive.

Support Easy Peasy Japanesey

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting Easy Peasy Japanesey. Your support will help keep us going. Thank you for your support!

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Franz

    Hi Anzu,

    in your video you use “ニカーッと” but in the first line of the text decription you use “ニカーっと”.
    I guess the “っ” should be a “ッ”?

    1. Anzu

      Hi Franz,
      Sorry it should be in katakana as it’s included in the onomatopoeia word which is not ニカー but 二カーッ. I fixed the text as well. Thanks for the advice!

Leave a Reply