What does Yare Yare mean in Japanese?

If you already watched or read JoJo’s Bizzarre Adventure in Japanese, you would know the iconic phrase by Jotaro Kujo: “やれやれ” -pronounced “Yare Yare”.

The phrase is trasnlated to intrepretations such as “well well”, “good grief” and “give me a break.” It is a common expression in Japan used to show disappointment. It is also a sarcastic expression of feeling bad for the other person.

“Frustration” by music2work2 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

In the anime/manga community, “yare yare” is a popular phrase from the reknowned JoJo memes. Often featured on social media with an image of Jotaro Kujo shaking his head. -If you have watched the King of the Hill, you can interpret “Yare Yare” as a version of Hank Hill’s “That boy ain’t right”.

How is ”Yare Yare” Used in JoJo’s Bizzarre Adventure?

”やれやれだぜ” -pronounced “Yare Yare Daze” is the quote repeated many times by Jotaro Kujo. When he uses it in the anime/manga, he’s typically implying that he is annoyed or bored. So it could mean that he is looking down on his enemy, which suggests his victory. Similar to the expression “what a pain” in English. These are some of the iconic “Yare Yare” quotes in the series:

Kujo Jotaro: やれやれ うるせえ男だ
“Good grief, what a loud guy”

episode 21 “Anubis God” page 77

Jean:・・・承太郎！
“…Jotaro!”
Kujo Jotaro: やれやれだぜ
“Well Well”

episode 27 “World of Dio” page 79

How do you use “Yare Yare” in real life?

Before attempting to use the phrase in a conversation with a Japanese friend, make sure they are someone who is NOT your superior or an eldery. If you have lived in Japan for a while, you could be familiar with the “Senpai-Kohai” culture. As part of the social manner in Japan, we should respect and be polite when speaking with elders.

With peace and love, here are 2 scenarios where you can apply the phrase “Yare Yare”. The conversations are between you and Japanese friend/colleague.

Scenario 1: Your friend recently broke their heart

You: 顔色悪いね。どうしたの？
“You seem pale. What happend?”

Your friend: 最近、彼氏と別れたから落ち込んでるの。
“I recently broke up with my boyfriend. That is why I’m sad.”

You: やれやれ、あれほど言ったのに。
“Yare Yare, I’ve told you so.”

“heart break…” by gnosis / john r is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Scenario 2: Your fellow colleague is upset at work

You: さっきのプレゼンテーション、上手く行った？
“Did you do well on the presentation earlier?”

Your friend: 緊張していて上手くいかなかった。
“It didn’t go well because I was nervous.”

You: そうなのね、やれやれ。
“I see, Yare Yare.”

“Reef offices, Paris, June 2000” by simonov is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

You’ve come to the end of this article, now you know one extra useful phrase in Japanese. If you’re seeking a Bizarre Adventure in Japan, take this opportunity to use “Yare Yare” in a conversation with a Japanese fellow.

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