What does the word weeb mean, and how is it used? This article is full of information on this slang term, like its origin and how to use it!
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Kevin
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February 8, 2022
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Common Questions
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What Does the Word Weeb Mean?
According to Dictionary.com, the word weeb, short for weeaboo, refers to a Western person who is obsessed with Japanese culture. A weeb often reads manga (Japanese comics), watches anime on sites like Crunchyroll, or takes an obsessive interest in Japanese food, hentai, or video games. This word is often found on sites like Discord and Reddit.
This subculture can be considered a fetishization of Japanese people. A weeb is a non-Japanese person — often, a white male — who is unhealthily obsessed with Japanese culture. This derogatory slang term and the derisive term is used to point out this strange obsession and has a negative connotation.
Someone can watch anime as a form of entertainment without being a weeaboo. A person can even have a favorite anime or manga webcomic and not be a weeb. The line between fan and obsession is thin and can sometimes display a lack of respect toward the culture they are fascinated with. After the anime boom, many people became fans of anime.
What Is the Origin of Weeb?
According to Linguaholic, the term weeb comes from the word weeaboo. However, the word weeaboo actually did not start out being used to describe white people who were fans of Japanese culture. The origin of the word weeaboo comes from the Perry Bible Fellowship’s comic strip to refer to something that is useless or unpleasant.
However, this term quickly replaced another term, “wapanese,” on sites like the website 4Chan. The term wapanese rose to popularity in the early 2000s to refer to a white person who is obsessed with Japanese culture. This term forms a portmanteau of white Japanese or wannabe Japanese.
This term became regulated on a number of forums, so people began using the term weeaboo to replace wapanese to get around 4Chan moderators and censors. Over time, the term weeaboo became shortened to weeb.
The word weeb used to be considered pretty offensive, like the word wapanese. However, over time, the derogatory nature of the word has lightened. These days, people might even refer to themselves as self-proclaimed weebs. Today, it’s about as offensive as an insult, like a nerd or geek.
The term still has negative connotations but is slowly being reclaimed by anime fans and becoming a neutral term. Still, avoid calling someone a weeb unless you are sure they will not take great offense.
Weeb vs. Otaku vs. Japanophile — What’s The Difference?
There are subtle differences between a person who is considered a weeb, someone who is considered an otaku, and someone who is a Japanophile or an anime enthusiast. These all have different levels of interest in Japanese culture and specifically anime. Do you know the difference between these three terms? Keep reading to learn more.
Japanophile
A Japanophile is a person who has a deep interest in Japanese culture. This person is not necessarily obsessed with anime and manga. They probably study the Japanese language and cuisine and are interested in learning more about the culture of Japanese people.
A Japanophile might watch anime or read manga to immerse themselves in the culture, but their interest in Japan goes beyond that. This person is more of a scholar than an otaku or a weeaboo, and their respect for Japan and its people sets them apart from these other Western or non-Japanese individuals.
Otaku
An otaku is a person that has a passion for anime and manga. This person is likely fairly well versed in the world of anime and frequently watches anime programming. It is possible that they own merchandise from their favorite shows or even dress up as characters from anime and manga (often called cosplay).
It is not outside the realm of possibility for someone who is an otaku to blog, make art, write, and do more related to anime. Yet, this person would not let anime run their lives or become their whole life. This person may not have the deep respect for Japanese culture that a Japanophile does. They can be thought of as middle-of-the-road anime fans.
Weeb/Weeaboo
A weeb is the highest level of an anime fan and the most dangerous. Unlike an otaku, this person has no boundaries when it comes to anime and lets anime and manga control their lives. Someone who is a weeb could become so obsessed that it takes over their entire lives, becoming lost in this fictional world to escape life’s problems.
Unlike an otaku or a Japanophile, a weeaboo has no self-control and is almost deluded in their level of obsession. Weeaboo crosses the line into unhealthy and could be a sign of deeper mental health problems.
What does WEEB stand for?
Weeb can also be used as an acronym (WEEB) and an abbreviation for a couple of other things. If you are going to call someone a weeb or tell someone about something that is a weeb, they will likely think that you mean weeaboo.
Note that if you mean one of the below possible definitions of weeb from The Free Dictionary, you may have to clarify your intended use.
- Western Europe Edifact Board
- WEEB Radio Station – Southern Pines, North Carolina
- Wisconsin Environmental Education Board
- Weeb Ewbank (American football coach)
- Western Europe EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Finance, Administration, Commerce, and Transport) Board
Conclusion
Overall, the word weeb is an abbreviation for weeaboo. A weeaboo is a non-Japanese person who is unhealthily obsessed with Japanese culture. Often, weebs constantly watch anime and read manga and fetishize Japanese culture.
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