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

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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。女おんなの子こらしく座すわりなさい。

agura o kakanai de. onnanoko rashiku suwari nasai.

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

生徒せいとと友達ともだちのように仲なかがいいけど、授業中じゅぎょうちゅうは先生せんせいらしく振ふる舞まっている。

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.

春はるらしく、暖あたたかくて心地ここちよい風かぜが吹ふいてるね。

haru rashiku, atatakakute kokochiyoi kaze ga fuiteru ne.

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

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

その女おんなの子こ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.

いきなりブワッと強つよい風かぜが吹ふいた

ikinari buwatto tsuyoi kaze ga fuita.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew.

暗闇くらやみの中なかで何なにかがキラッと光ひかった。

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、いつも顔かおを上あげていこうよ。

utsumukazu ni, itsumo kao o agete ikō yo.

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

落おち着ついて敵てきを倒たおし、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、未来みらいに向むかって歩あるいていこう。

kako dewa naku, mirai ni mukatte aruite ikō.

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

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