Zero Wing
Zero Wing is an arcade game from Toaplan, noted for poorly translated subtitles that spawned an internet meme.
Introduction (16-bit Sega console version)
[edit]This is a full transcript of the introduction sequence, exclusive to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive console port. Original Japanese text and a more accurate translation are provided for reference. The game's introduction sequence is the source of the widespread Internet phenomenon "All your base are belong to us".
The bluntness of the famous mistranslation is in stark contrast to CATS' cool, caustic irony in the original text. The difference is especially vivid in the line corresponding to "All your base are belong to us". In the original line, CATS uses a form of Japanese grammar that is rude to the Captain but respectful towards the Federation army, insinuating that the Federation was treacherously co-opted into betraying the bases.
| Original Japanese script (Hepburn romanization) | Engrish translation | More accurate English translation[1] |
|---|---|---|
| 西暦2101年 (Seireki nisen-hyakuichi-nen) | In A.D. 2101 | In 2101 A.D., |
| 戦いは始まった。(Tatakai wa hajimatta.) | War was beginning. | The war has begun. |
| 艦長：一体どうしたと言んだ [sic][2]？ (Kanchō: Ittai dōshita to iunda?) | Captain: What happen? | Captain: How did this happen? |
| 機関士：何者かによって、爆発物が仕掛けられたようです。(Kikanshi: Nanimono ka niyotte, bakuhatsu-butsu ga shikakerareta yō desu.) | Mechanic: Somebody set up us the bomb. | Engineer: Reports indicate[3] someone planted explosives aboard. |
| 通信士：艦長！通信が入りました！ (Tsūshinshi: Kanchō! Tsūshin ga hairimashita!) | Operator: We get signal. | Communications operator: Captain! Incoming transmission![4] |
| 艦長：なにっ？(Kanchō: Nani?) | Captain: What ! | Captain: What?! |
| 通信士：メインスクリーンにビジョンが来ます。[5](Tsūshinshi: Meinsukurīn ni bijon ga kimasu.) | Operator: Main screen turn on. | Communications operator: Visual confirmed on the main screen.[6] |
| 艦長：お-お前は！！(Kanchō: O-omae wa!!) | Captain: It's you !! | Captain: Y-you!! |
| CATS：おいそがしそうだね、諸君。 (CATS: Oisogashi sō da ne, shokun.) | CATS: How are you gentlemen !! | CATS: You seem busy, gentlemen.[7] |
| CATS：連邦政府軍のご協力により、君達の基地は、全てCATSがいただいた。 (CATS: Renpō-seifu-gun no go-kyōryoku niyori, kimitachi no kichi wa, subete CATS ga itadaita.) | CATS: All your base are belong to us. | CATS: With the gracious support of the Federation Government forces, CATS has humbly received all of your bases[8]. |
| CATS：君達の艦も、そろそろ終わりだろう。 (CATS: Kimitachi no kan mo, sorosoro owari darō.) | CATS: You are on the way to destruction. | CATS: And soon, I suppose your puny vessel will meet its end as well.[9] |
| 艦長：ば-ばかなっ・・・！ (Kanchō: Ba-baka nā...!) | Captain: What you say !! | Captain: I-Impossible...! |
| CATS：君達のご協力には感謝する。せいぜい残り少ない命を、大切にしたまえ・・・・ (CATS: Kimitachi no go-kyōryoku ni wa kansha suru. Seizei nokorisukunai inochi o, taisetsu ni shitamae...) | CATS: You have no chance to survive make your time. | CATS: Your graciously adequate support is most appreciated. Do try to savor what little precious time you have left.[10] |
| CATS：ハッハッハッハッハッ ・・・ (CATS: Hahhahhahhahha...) | CATS: Ha ha ha ha .... | CATS: Ha ha ha ha ha... |
| 通信士：艦長・・・・ (Tsūshinshi: Kanchō...) | Operator: Captain !! | Communications operator: Captain... |
| 艦長：ZIG全機に発進命令！！ (Kanchō: ZIG zenki ni hasshin-meirei!!) | Captain: Take off every 'ZIG'!! | Captain: Issue an immediate launch order for all ZIG units!! |
| 艦長：もう彼らに託すしかない・・・ (Kanchō: Mō karera ni takusu shika nai...) | Captain: You know what you doing. | Captain: We are out of options. It is up to them now...[11] |
| 艦長：たのむぞ。ZIG！！ (Kanchō: Tanomu zo. ZIG!!) | Captain: Move 'ZIG'. | Captain: We're counting on you, ZIG fighters!! |
| 艦長：我々の未来に希望を・・・[12] (Kanchō: Wareware no mirai ni kibō o...) | Captain: For great justice. | Captain: For the hope in our future... |
Introduction (Steam/GOG remake)
[edit]The remake version's translation was made more accurate with the exception of CATS's lines, save for different punctuation. This was a deliberate choice referenced by the ship's screens reading "TRANSLATION ERROR".
| Original Japanese script (Hepburn romanization) | Engrish/English translation | More accurate English translation[1] |
|---|---|---|
| 西暦2101年 (Seireki nisen-hyakuichi-nen) | In A.D. 2101 | In 2101 A.D., |
| 戦いは始まった。(Tatakai wa hajimatta.) | War was beginning. | The war has begun. |
| 艦長：一体どうしたと言んだ [sic][2]？ (Kanchō: Ittai dōshita to iunda?) | Captain: What happened?[13] | Captain: How did this happen? |
| 機関士：何者かによって、爆発物が仕掛けられたようです。(Kikanshi: Nanimono ka niyotte, bakuhatsu-butsu ga shikakerareta yō desu.) | Mechanic: Someone set up bombs all over the ship. | Engineer: Reports indicate[3] someone planted explosives aboard. |
| 通信士：艦長！通信が入りました！ (Tsūshinshi: Kanchō! Tsūshin ga hairimashita!) | Operator: We are getting a signal! | Communications operator: Captain! Incoming transmission![4] |
| 艦長：なにっ？(Kanchō: Nani?) | Captain: On screen!! | Captain: What?! |
| 通信士：メインスクリーンにビジョンが来ます。[5](Tsūshinshi: Meinsukurīn ni bijon ga kimasu.) | Operator: Main screen turned on. | Communications operator: Visual confirmed on the main screen.[6] |
| 艦長：お-お前は！！(Kanchō: O-omae wa!!) | Captain: It is you !! | Captain: Y-you!! |
| CATS：おいそがしそうだね、諸君。 (CATS: Oisogashi sō da ne, shokun.) | CATS: How are you gentlemen !? | CATS: You seem busy, gentlemen.[7] |
| CATS：連邦政府軍のご協力により、君達の基地は、全てCATSがいただいた。 (CATS: Renpō-seifu-gun no go-kyōryoku niyori, kimitachi no kichi wa, subete CATS ga itadaita.) | CATS: All your base are belong to us!! | CATS: With the gracious support of the Federation Government forces, CATS has humbly received all of your bases[8]. |
| CATS：君達の艦も、そろそろ終わりだろう。 (CATS: Kimitachi no kan mo, sorosoro owari darō.) | CATS: You are on the way to destruction. | CATS: And soon, I suppose your puny vessel will meet its end as well.[9] |
| 艦長：ば-ばかなっ・・・！ (Kanchō: Ba-baka nā...!) | Captain: What are you saying?? | Captain: I-Impossible...! |
| CATS：君達のご協力には感謝する。せいぜい残り少ない命を、大切にしたまえ・・・・ (CATS: Kimitachi no go-kyōryoku ni wa kansha suru. Seizei nokorisukunai inochi o, taisetsu ni shitamae...) | CATS: Thank you for your cooperation.[14] You have no chance to survive, make your time. | CATS: Your graciously adequate support is most appreciated. Do try to savor what little precious time you have left.[10] |
| CATS：ハッハッハッハッハッ ・・・ (CATS: Hahhahhahhahha...) | CATS: Ha ha ha ha .... | CATS: Ha ha ha ha ha... |
| 通信士：艦長・・・・ (Tsūshinshi: Kanchō...) | Operator: Captain !! | Communications operator: Captain... |
| 艦長：ZIG全機に発進命令！！ (Kanchō: ZIG zenki ni hasshin-meirei!!) | Captain: Launch every 'ZIG'!! | Captain: Issue an immediate launch order for all ZIG units!! |
| 艦長：もう彼らに託すしかない・・・ (Kanchō: Mō karera ni takusu shika nai...) | Captain: The ZIGs are our only remaining option.. | Captain: We are out of options. It is up to them now...[11] |
| 艦長：我々の未来に希望を・・・[12] (Kanchō: Wareware no mirai ni kibō o...) | Captain: May there be hope for our future... | Captain: For the hope in our future... |
| 艦長：たのむぞ。ZIG！！ (Kanchō: Tanomu zo. ZIG!!) | Captain: We are counting on the ZIGs!! For great justice!! | Captain: We're counting on you, ZIG fighters!! |
Ending (arcade version)
[edit]The following ending text is exclusive to the arcade version of the game. The ending text is always in English, even when the machine is set to the Japan region.
| In-game Engrish text | English localization rewrite[1] |
|---|---|
| Congratulation !! | Congratulations! |
| A.D.2111 | As of 2111 A.D., |
| All bases of CATS were destroyed. |
CATS has been defeated. |
| It seems to be peaceful. | Peace seems to have been restored, |
| But it is incorrect. | but the war has not ended yet. |
| CATS is still alive. ZIG-01 must fight against CATS again. |
CATS still exists. ZIG-01 must continue to fight the war against CATS, |
| And down with them completely! |
and they must be completely destroyed. |
| Good luck. | Let us hope for ZIG-01's success. Good luck. |
CATS Endings (16-bit Sega console version, Japanese exclusive)
[edit]The Japanese version of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive port of Zero Wing has 35 endings[15]. From the fourth ending on, CATS talks to the player after they finish a loop of the game.
| Original Japanese script (Hepburn romanization) | Simple English translation[15] | More accurate English translation[1] |
|---|---|---|
| お前は連邦政府軍の者ではないな！ いったいお前は何者だ！ お前もＣＡＴＳに入らないか。[16](Omae wa renpō seifugun no mono de wa nai na! Ittai omae wa nanimono da! Omae mo CATS ni hairanai ka.) | You aren’t a member of the Federation government forces! Just who are you?! Want to join CATS? | You're no Federation soldier! Just who the hell are you?! Say... how would you like to fly for CATS? |
| ねえ、もう終りにしてよ。わたし達、いそがしいんだから。もう何もないのよ[17] (Nē, mō owari ni shite yo. Watashitachi, isogashīn da kara. Mō nani mo nai no yo.) | C’mon, stop already. We’re busy, you know. There’s nothing left to see here. | Um, excuse me, can you like, stop? We are, like, incredibly busy right now. We are totally out of material. |
| わたし達の基地では、ごましおがおいしいのよ！よっていかない。[18] (Watashitachi no kichi de wa, gomashio ga oishī no yo! Yotte ikanai.) | The gomashio at our base is delightful! You should stop by. | You know, back at our bases, the gomashio is just divine! Won't you come over and try some? |
| わたし達のうんこはごましおなの！ごはんにかけてたまごとまぜて・・・・・・・とてもおいしいの！[19] (Watashitachi no unko wa gomashio na no! Gohan ni kakete tamago to mazete.......totemo oishī no!) | Gomashio is our doo-doo! If you put it on rice and mix it with an egg… it’s super-yummy! | The gomaisho is our poopie! Throw it on rice and mix an egg in...it's so tasty! |
| もうそろそろねなよ！体にわるいんだから。わたしには終りがないのよ！[20] (Mō sorosoro ne na yo! Karada ni waruin da kara. Watashi ni wa owari ga nai no yo!) | Come on! Go to sleep already! This is bad for your health. I have no end, just so you know! | It is way past your bedtime, mister! You are absolutely destroying your poor body! As for me, I am trapped in an infinite loop! |
| もうまいりました。君の力をかりたい！わたし達なかよしになりたいね。[21] (Mō mairimashita. Kimi no chikara o karitai! Watashitachi nakayoshi ni naritai ne.) | Okay, okay. You win. I would like to ask for your help! I hope we can be friends. | Okay, okay, I give up. I admit it, I really need your help! Can we just call a truce and be best buddies? |
| わたしのなまえをしってますか。まいねえむはジョンークリメン！君のなまえはなんてえの。[22] (Watashi no namae o shittemasu ka. Mai neemu wa Jon-Kurimen! Kimi no namae wa nantee no.) | Do you know my name? It’s John Crimen! What’s your name? | Do ya know my name? Hewwo, my name is Jooooohn Crimen! Whatcha name? |
| わたしのメイリーンがいないの。一緒にいたかったのに！どこにいるかしってますか。[23](Watashi no Meirīn ga inai no. Issho ni itakatta noni! Doko ni iru ka shittemasu ka.) | My Maylene is gone. I wanted her to be with me! Do you know where she is? | My Maylene is gone and left me... and we were supposed to be together! Have you seen her anywhere out there? |
| むかし、わたしはかごしまでばななのはんばいをしていました。いまはりんごをうっています。[24] (Mukashi, watashi wa Kagoshima de banana no hanbai o shite imashita. Ima wa ringo o utte imasu) | I used to sell bananas in Kagoshima a long time ago. I sell apples now. | Once upon a time, I lived in Kagoshima and I worked very hard selling buhnanas. Right now, I am selling appuls. |
| 戦いは、終わったわけではない。ハッ、ハッ、ハッ、。ビョーン！おしりが、かいーの。かいーの。[25] (Tatakai wa, owatta wake de wa nai. Ha, ha, ha, . Byōn! Oshiri ga, kai-no. Kai-no.) | The battle isn’t necessarily over. Ha ha ha. Bwwoing! Oh, my butt’s itchy! | You are foolish to think this war has ended. Ha, ha, ha... BOIINNNNGGG! Ooh, my butt itches! It itches! |
| ねえったら、もうかえらせてよう。わたし、おはだのまがりかどなんだからん！！[26] (Nēttara, mō kaerasete yō. Watashi, ohada no magarikado nanda karan!!) | Sheesh. Let me go home already! I’m at the peak of my beauty, after all! | I said stop, let me go home already! You are completely ruining my youthful glow...I need my ten-step skincare routine!! |
| お前のせいで我々ＣＡＴＳは、またがビジョ、ビジョだぞ！どーすんだョ。おい！かに、かに。[27] (Omae no sei de wareware CATS wa, Mata ga bijo, bijo da zo! Do-sunda yo. Oi! Kani, kani.) | Our CATS organization is sopping wet now, all because of you. You’d BETTER make this up to us! Kani, kani | Look what you did! Because of you, we at CATS...have collectively wet our pants in terror! You'd BETTER do something about this mess! Hmph! [crab-walks away] |
| ＣＡＴＳから、諸君に命令する。すいすいすーだらだった、すらすらすいすいすいーっと。言ってごらん。[28] (CATS kara, shokun ni meirei suru. Sui sui suudara datta, sura sura sui sui suii-tto. Itte goran.) | CATS hereby issues you an order. “Sui-sui-sūdara-datta, sura-sura sui-sui-suī.” Go on, try to say it. | CATS issues a order to you gentlemen. Sui-sui-sūdara-datta, sura-sura sui-sui-suī. Now YOU try to say it. |
| うしとうまが爆発したら、とってもおいしそうだよ。どうしよーかなー・・・・。[29] (Ushi to uma ga bakuhatsu shitara, tottemo oishisou da yo. oushiyo- ka na-....) | A cow or a horse would look oh-so-delicious if it exploded. Hmm, what to do… | If a cow and a horse just suddenly exploded, I bet they'd look super-duper delish. Whatever shouuuuld I dooooo... |
| おーまいがっ！連邦政府軍に君のような者がいたなんてＣＡＴＳうるうるりんよ！もうたまりませんわっ！[30] (O-mai ga-! Renpō seifugun ni kimi no you na mono ga ita nante CATS uruururin yo! Mō tamarimasen wa-!) | Oh my god! We never expected the Federation government forces to have someone like you! You made CATS sobby-sobby teary-weary! We can’t take this anymore! | Oh my gah! I can't believe the Federation was hiding a pilot like you! You made CATS all sobby sniffy teary-weary! I seriously just can't even! |
| わたしは君のままなのよ[sic]２２年前、連邦政府軍の基地でうんでしまったの。ままとよんでー！[31] (Watashi wa kimi no mama na no yo. nijū ni nen mae, renpō seifugun no kichi de unde shimatta no. Mama to yonde-!) | I’m your mom. I gave birth to you 22 years ago on a Federation military base. Call me “Mommy”! | I'm your mama. I accidentally gave birth to you 22 years ago on a Federation base. Call me "Mamaaaaa"! |
| ばっかでない！まともに戦ってかてるわけねーんだしなかまになって、たのしーしようぜ！[32] (Bakka de nai! Matomo ni tatakatte kateru wakenē n dashinakama ni natte, tanoshī shiyou ze!) | Don’t be dumb! You can’t beat us in a straight fight, so join us and have some fun! | Don't be a dumbass! There's no way in hell I can beat you in a fair fight anyway! So let's be bros and do some fun! |
| 戦いは、始まったばかりだ。よういはいいかね諸君。ハッ、ハッ、ハッ。はーい、それそれーっ！それそれーっ！[33] (Tatakai wa, hajimatta bakari da. Youi wa ii ka ne shokun. Ha, ha, ha. Ha-i, sore sore-! Sore sore-!) | The battle has only just begun. Are you ready? Ha ha ha. Okay, here goes! Heave-ho! Heave-ho! | The war has only just begun. Are you prepared, gentlemen? Ha ha ha. Okay, here goes! Heave-ho! Heave-ho! |
| お前をたおしてからね、せかいをクリーンクリーンするの・・。そしたらね、もっと基地たてたいのよ！[34] (Omae o taoshite kara ne, Sekai o kurīn kurīn suru no.. Soshitara ne, motto kichi tatetai no yo!) | After I beat you, I’m gonna clean-clean the world. And then I want to build even more bases! | So, after I totally beat you up, right? I'm gonna do a big clean-clean on the whole world. And then, you see, I wanna build even MORE bases!! |
| 連邦政府軍の諸君のご協力により[sic]我々ＣＡＴＳは、ばす、がす爆発！どうだね。むハハハハ・・・。[35] (Renpō seifugun no shokun no gokyōryoku ni yori, wareware CATS wa, basu, gasu bakuhatsu! Dō da ne. Muhahahaha...) | Thanks to your Federation assistance, our CATS organization is BASU-GASU-BAKUHATSU! How was that? Muhahahaha… | With the gracious support of the Federation Government forces, we CATS sell seashells by the seashore! Cool, huh? Muhahahaha... |
| にはにはにはにはとりがいる。もももすもももももたろう。君にも言えるかな。[36] (Niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru. Momo mo sumomo mo Momotarō. Kimi ni mo ieru ka na.) | "Niwa niwa niwa niwatori ga iru. Momo mo sumomo mo Momotarō." Can you say it too? | "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice...skates? Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled...pepperoni?" Can you say it too? |
| たらったらったらったＣＡＴＳのだんす。どうだい、わたしとおどらないかい！わはわはわははははっ [37](Taratta ratta ratta CATS no dansu. Doudai, watashi to odoranai kai! Waha waha wahahahaha-) | Ta-ratta-ratta-ratta! This is the CATS dance. What do you say? Won’t you dance with me?! Wahahahahaha! | Ta-ratta-ratta-ratta! Look at CATS get down on the dance floor. So how about it? Shall we dance, milady?! Waha-waha-WAHAHAHAHAHA... |
| るるはまんねん、たまりませんねん！かぜにまけるな！しーはーはー！[38] (Ruru wa mannen, tamarimasen nen! Kaze ni makeruna! Shi-ha-ha-!) | Lulu lives for 10,000 years! Oh, I can’t stand it! Don’t let your cold get you down! SHE! HER! HER! | A turtle lives for ten thousand... DayQuils? It's unbearable, I tell ya! Feed a cold, starve a fever! Wheeze... hack, cough! |
| わしをよんでそんなにおもしろいんか！しまいにはいかるで！われ！もう終わりにしョ！なったのむわ！[39] (Washi o yonde sonna ni omoshiroin ka! Shimai ni wa ikaru de! Ware! Mō owari ni sho! Nat-tanomu wa!) | Is reading me really that fun?! You’re gonna make me cross, y’know! Just stop it already! Seriously, please! | Is draggin' this old man out here really that fun fer ya?! Keep it up and I'll bust your chops! You whippersnapper! L-let's just call it quits! I'm b-beggin' ya! |
| もう終わりにしようぜ。おなかすいたし、だるいし、ねむいし。ううっ おねがいだからかえらせてぇぇぇっ！[40] (Mō owari ni shiyou ze. Onaka suitashi, darui shi, nemui shi. Uu- Onegai da kara kaerasete-e-e-e-!) | C’mon, it’s time we stop this. I’m hungry, tired, and sleepy. Unnngh… Please! Let me leave! | C'mon, let's just end this already. I'm hungry, and I'm tired, and I'm sleepy. Uuuugh... I'm begging you, pleeeeease just let me go hoooome! |
| だんなはん、いま終わりにしはったら、わてがええおなごしょうかいしまっせ。どないなもんでっか！[41] (Danna-han, ima owari ni shihatta ra, wate ga ē onago shoukai shimasse. Donai na mon dekka!) | Howdy, mister. If you quit now, I’ll introduce ya ta some nice gals. Whatcha say?! | Tell ya what, boss! If you end this right now, I can hook you up with a real fine dame! Whaddaya say?! How 'bout it?! |
| お前のうしろでおしっこしーしーするぞー。まいったか！[42] (Omae no ushiro de oshikko shī-shī suru zo-. Maitta ka!) | I’m gonna go pee-pee behind you! Now do you give up?! | Right behind you, I'm gonna go tinky-tinky! Now have you had enough?! |
| おっ、お前は何者なんだ！うっ、うしか。それともかにか・・。わからない。ハッ、もしかしてぞう。 (O-, omae wa nanimono nan da! U-, ushi ka. Soretomo kani ka... Wakaranai. Ha-, moshikashite zō.) | Wh-who are you?! A c-cow? Or maybe a crab? I dunno. Oh! I bet you’re an elephant. | J-just what kind of monster are you?! A c-cow? Or maybe a crab? My brain is melting... Gasp! Could you be... an elephant?! |
| そらをごらん。わたしがとんでいるかもしれないよ。ＣＡＴＳはそらをとんでいけるんだ・・・・うっそでーい！けっ！[43] (Sora o goran. Watashi ga tonde iru kamoshirenai yo. CATS wa sora o tonde ikeru n da.... Ussode-i! Ke-!) | Look up into the sky. You just might see me flying across it. CATS can fly through the sky…. Not! Ha! | Gaze upon the wondrous sky. You just might see me flying up there. CATS can soar peacefully through the endless sky...PSYCH! Ptooie! |
| それまでしてもまだ終わらせない。まいりましたよだんな！ハッハッハ はなたーかだっかー！たーかだっか！[44] (Sore made shite mo mada owarasenai. Mairimashita yo danna! Hahhahha Hana ta-ka dakka-! Ta-ka dakka!) | You’re that determined to keep this from ending. I give up, good sir! Ha ha ha! HANA TAKADAKA! TAKADAKKA! | Even after all that, you still won't just let this end. I totally surrender, Boss! Hahahaha! You must be feeling sooo high and mighty! Hiiiigh and mighty! |
| そらをこーえてーーららら・・・・・・かなたーー・・・うーむ、かしをわすれた。[45] (Sora o ko-ete-- rarara......kanata--...U-mu, kashi o wasureta.) | Acroooozzz the skyyyyy la la la……beyooooond the…Hmm. I forgot the lyrics. | Acroooozzz the skyyyyy la-la-la……beyooooond the…Hmm. I forgot the lyrics. |
| 入力は、Ｓ ＣうビだＡれ西ビＣＣ西れ西Ａだ Ｓ、です。(Nyūryoku wa, S C u bi da A re nishi bi C C nishi re nishi A da S, desu.) | Input: S C u B Da A re West B C C West re West A Da then S | (This is a secret code in Zero Wing that brings up the game's debug mode. It also works in the English version of the game. After this loop, the endings loop back to the first CATS ending.) |
External links
[edit]
- Benner, Jeffrey; "When Gamer Humor Attacks"; Wired; 23 February 2001; article about the meme.
- Mandelin, Clyde; "Zero Wing Translation Comparison: All Endings"; Legends of Localization; 4 November 2016; coverage of the Japanese-exclusive endings in the 16-bit Sega console port.
Footnotes
[edit]- ↑ a b c d The direct translation from the original Japanese game text has been created by Wikipedia and Wikiquote editors with the help of native speakers. The intent of the Japanese registers is reflected as well in the accurate English translation.
- ↑ a b The Japanese line is missing a う. The line is supposed to read 一体どうしたと言うんだ.
- ↑ a b The original Japanese line uses the ようです construct. In Japanese, people never express anything that's not their own direct observation as such. This even includes military protocol. Translating ようです as "it seems that" or "it appears that" may be technically accurate, but in the context of military protocol, it makes the speakers come off as unsure or wishy washy. In Western military contexts, military members never say things like "it seems that the enemy is closing in". It is "scans show that the enemy is closing in." The equivalent English translation used that follows the intent of the Japanese line and fits Western military contexts is "reports indicate" to convey that the Mechanic/Engineer is delivering a situation report synthesized from second-hand information.
- ↑ a b The Japanese line literally translates to "Captain! A communication [signal] arrived!" For the more accurate English translation, the standard military situation report of "incoming transmission" is used.
- ↑ a b The Japanese line's use of メインスクリーン (main screen) and ビジョン (vision) is an example of wasei-eigo, commonly used in Japanese sci-fi writing to make technology seem futuristic and somewhat foreign to the Japanese audience.
- ↑ a b The literal English translation of the Japanese line is "A visual is coming to the main screen." The more accurate English translation takes the polite form of the Japanese line and renders it as a military protocol situation report, delivered clipped and with brevity.
- ↑ a b The word 諸君 (shokun) translates to "gentlemen," "boys," or "my friends," but it is specifically used by someone in a position of authority addressing a group of subordinates (like a commander speaking to his troops, or a politician speaking to a crowd). CATS' use of お in front of いそがしそう ("seem busy") makes the line polite.
- ↑ a b CATS' use of ご in front of 協力 elevates the support that the Federation gave him. This is reflected in the more accurate English translation as "gracious support." Conversely, his use of 君達 (kimitachi, "you all" / "you lot") to address the Captain is condescending and patronizing. いただくis kenjougo AKA humble language. It is the humble verb form of "to receive," so it is reflected in the English translation as "humbly received all your bases."
- ↑ a b CATS' Japanese line uses 君達の艦, which literally translates to "your vessel." But 君達 (kimitachi, "you all"/"you lot") carries an air of condescension, often used by superiors to address subordinates. It carries an inherent lack of respect when used in a hostile context. The more accurate English translation conveys this intent by using a condescending adjective to become "your puny vessel."
- ↑ a b CATS' use of 君達のご協力 is mixed register, putting down the Captain and elevating the Federation's treachery, so this is translated as "your graciously adequate support." Translating it literally to "your support" strips the intended register and sneer that CATS is communicating.
- ↑ a b Literal translation: "There is nothing left to do but entrust it to them [the ZIG fighters]."
- ↑ a b The Japanese line is a purposeful sentence fragment. Ending with を implies that 我々の未来に希望 will take the action of whatever verb comes after. With Zero Wing being a video game, by omitting the verb, the Japanese script is indirectly calling upon the player to supply the action.
- ↑ The remake pauses the dialogue at "What happen" until the ship begins to shake and adds "-ed?" afterwards
- ↑ This line was not present in the original English translation of the game.
- ↑ a b "Zero Wing Translation Comparison: All Endings", Mandelin, Clyde; Legends of Localization; 4 November 2016; Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ CATS' tone and register here shifts from the polite tone in the introduction to a generic tough guy yakuwarigo (role language), shown by his use of the second-person pronoun お前 (omae). Yakuwarigo is a linguistics concept that, when used in Japanese media, lets the audience instantly tell a character's age, gender, social status, and personality entirely by the pronouns and sentence-ending particles they use, without them ever having to explicitly state who they are.
- ↑ CATS has adopted Joseigo. It is the casual, slightly whiny speech patterns associated with young women, exasperated mothers, or annoyed service workers. CATS' pronoun here is わたし (spelled out in hiragana) to communicate his change in register. The ending "〜んだから" (n da kara) translates to "because [reason], so [implied: act accordingly]." It is the universal tone of someone making an excuse. "Look, we're busy, so... knock it off." He ends with a specifically feminine/soft particle structure: "〜のよ" (no yo). This structure (no + yo) is highly characteristic of female speech in Japanese media. It softens the statement while still insisting on its truth. The more accurate English translation takes the Joseigo into account, making CATS speak like a Valley Girl. This recreates the cognitive dissonance a Japanese player feels when reading a terrifying cyborg say "...no yo" and "...da kara."
- ↑ よっていかない is a casual, friendly invitation. It communicates warmth, hospitality, and a complete lack of urgency
- ↑ うんこ means "poop, crap, feces." But this particular word is slightly childish, somewhat vulgar, but incredibly common. CATS' register change to childish demeanor is reflected by the line's almost exclusive use of hiragana. The more accurate English translation incorporates this intent by making CATS' language childish.
- ↑ もうそろそろねなよ is a maternal way of suggesting that someone should go to bed. The tone and register is effeminate, given by the use of the Joseigo particle combination 〜のよ！ (no yo!), like a nagging mother telling her child to go to sleep already. This is reflected in the more accurate English translation.
- ↑ CATS' register here is self-infantilization. なかよし (nakayoshi) means "good buddies," "chums," or "best friends." It is a word almost exclusively used by, or when speaking to, small children. When a kindergarten teacher tells two toddlers to stop fighting over a toy and make up, she tells them to be nakayoshi. There is even a famous, long-running Japanese magazine for little girls called Nakayoshi (which serialized Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura).
- ↑ CATS' register is even more childish here. まいねえむ (mai neemu) is literally the English "my name" transliterated into Japanese. This is a dialogue style known as yōji-go (baby talk) or burikko (feigned, exaggerated cuteness). なんてえの is slurred, highly colloquial contraction of 何というの. The English equivalent to this dialogue style is having a character say "hewwo" or "I wuv you."
- ↑ In Japanese grammar, 〜のに means "even though," "despite," or "but." It connects two contrasting clauses (e.g., "Even though it was raining, I went outside"). However, in conversational Japanese, ending a sentence with a dangling 〜のに is a highly specific linguistic tool used to express deep dissatisfaction, regret, or a feeling of unfairness.
- ↑ Similar to the use of まいねえむ earlier, CATS' use of the hiragana ばなな for "banana" (instead of the normal katakana バナナ) communicates that he has taken on a childish register, specifically of a child who is just learning how to spell and how to use basic Japanese grammar taught in grade school. The more accurate English translation reflects this by misspelling/slurring certain words.
- ↑ CATS begins with a formal villain monologue register. Then the mood whiplash hits. ビョーン (byōn) is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a cartoon spring expanding, a rubber band snapping, or someone comically bouncing. おしりが、かいーの is a reference to a signature gag by Japanese comedian Kanpei Hazama.
- ↑ Adding 〜ったら to ねえ (casual attention marker, equivalent to "hey!") changes it entirely. ねえったら implies intense exasperation, roughly translating to "I said..." or "Listen to me when I'm talking!" It communicates petulance. おはだのまがりかど ("the turning point of the skin") is a universally understood marketing idiom in Japanese culture used by the cosmetics and beauty industry. It refers to the specific age (traditionally cited as 25 years old) when a woman's skin supposedly stops producing as much collagen, losing its youthful bounce, elasticity, and glow. だからん with the added ん is another example of burikko, communicating a grown woman acting like a little girl in order to get her way. The more accurate English translation reflects the burikko by giving CATS effeminate and childish language.
- ↑ また (mata), written in Kanji as 股, refers exclusively to the crotch, groin, or inner thighs. In Japanese, the standard onomatopoeia for something being soaking wet is ビショビショ (Bisho bisho). However, in Japanese slang and comedy, if you want to emphasize that something is incredibly messy, gross, or exaggeratedly ruined, you add a dakuten (the two little voicing marks) to the consonants, turning the soft "sh" sound into a heavy, sloppy "j" sound. So ビショビショ (bisho bisho) becomes ビジョビジョ (bijo bijo). CATS is saying that he peed his pants, and he is soaking dripping wet. He then tries to save his dignity with the tough-sounding どーすんだョ。おい！. Following that, かに、かに (crab, crab) communicates a physical action. This is the Japanese physical concept of がに股 (ganimata), literally translating to "crab crotch" or "crab thighs." It is the Japanese word for being bow-legged. So CATS is walking away bow-legged because he peed himself so badly that he's soaking wet at the crotch.
- ↑ CATS briefly returns to his register from then intro. すいすいすーだらだった、すらすらすいすいすいー are non-sense lyrics from "Sūdara-bushi" (スーダラ節), a 1961 comedy song released by the Japanese entertainer Hitoshi Ueki.
- ↑ とっても (tottemo) is a highly conversational, slightly childish intensifier for "very" or "awfully." どうしようかな means "What should I do?" or "I wonder what I should do." Written out as どうしよーかなー, the vowels are elongated.
- ↑ Burikko strikes again. おーまいがっ (O-mai ga-) is literally "Oh my god" transliterated into Japanese. But instead of "がっど" for "god," the ど is omitted, leaving it "Oh my gah!" CATS uses the intro's register again, but devolves to burikko. うるうる (Uru-uru) is the Japanese mimetic word (onomatopoeia) for watery, tear-filled, shimmering eyes. It is the audio equivalent of the classic anime "puppy dog eyes" trope. りん (rin) is a cutesy, musical suffix. It has no grammatical meaning. It is the Japanese equivalent of adding "-y" or "-a-roo" to the end of a word to make it sound bubbly. Together, うるうるりん can be translated as "teary-weary" or "cry-a-poo". わっ (wa-) is a distinctly feminine sentence ender. Adding the small tsu (っ) gives it a breathy, dramatic flair.
- ↑ The in-game text lacks a period (。) at the end of わたしは君のままなのよ. The word mama (まま) is written in soft Hiragana instead of Katakana (ママ) or the Japanese word for mother (お母さん / Okaasan). This strips the reveal of any austere, dramatic dignity. Instead of saying "I am your mother," CATS says "I am your mama." なのよ identifies the register as Joseigo (feminine role language). It is highly emotional, slightly gossipy, and intensely feminine. うんでしまった communicates that the birth was given by accident, unintentionally, or with great regret.
- ↑ The register here is of an 1980s Japanese Yankī (delinquent youth). In standard Japanese, "baka" means idiot or fool. The addition of a small tsu (っ) in the middle of the word turns it into ばっか (bakka). This is a hard, aggressive consonant stop. It is the phonetic equivalent scoffing and spitting the word out. The grammar 〜でない (de nai) is a colloquial, highly casual regional contraction (often used as a rhetorical question). Put together, it is an accusatory, exasperated scoff directed at the listener. なかま (Nakama) is a culturally loaded word, often used in Japanese anime (famously the core theme of One Piece). It means "comrade," "crewmate," or "in-group buddy." たのしーしようぜ is grammatically incorrect. It is a juvenile, slurred corruption of the language. It translates literally to: "Let's do fun!"
- ↑ CATS starts with his introduction register. それそれーっ！それそれーっ！ is a 掛け声 (Kakegoe), a rhythmic, traditional hype-chant. It is shouted during a Matsuri (Japanese festival). When a group of people is carrying a massive, incredibly heavy mikoshi (portable shrine) through the streets on their shoulders, they chant "Sore! Sore! Sore!" to keep the rhythm, hype up the crowd, and ignore the physical pain.
- ↑ The register here is a hyperactive toddler. The first phrase ends with 〜からね (kara ne) — "After [X], you see..." The second sentence begins with そしたらね (Soshitara ne) — "And then after that, you see..." CATS starts off trying to sound tough by using the second person pronoun お前, but drops immediately to hyperactive toddler mode.
- ↑ There is a missing comma (、) after 連邦政府軍の諸君のご協力により. CATS begins with his Japanese "all your base" line verbatim. ばす、がす爆発 is a Japanese tongue twister. ばす、がす (basu, gasu; "bus", "gas") and 爆発 (bakuhatsu, "explosion") sound similar. For the more accurate English translation, an English tongue twister is used.
- ↑ Two more Japanese tongue twisters, written in hiragana to be just as difficult to read. The first one written in kanji, and made easier to read, is 庭には二羽鶏がいる (In the yard, there are two chickens). The second one is originally 李も桃も桃のうち (Sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi, "peaches and plums are in the peach family"), but became 桃も李も桃太郎 (Peaches and plums are both Momotarō). 桃太郎 ("Peach Boy") is a legendary hero of Japanese folklore and a cultural icon associated with peaches. 君にも言えるかな firmly establishes the register as that of a host on a children's educational television program. For the more accurate English translation, two English tongue twisters are used and substituted to convey the "Momotarō" substitution.
- ↑ The particle 〜かい (kai) is a masculine question marker that carries a distinct air of theatrical, suave, older-gentleman confidence. CATS' register is that of a gentleman asking a lady to dance in a formal party. The laughter afterwards is unhinged.
- ↑ るるはまんねん is a malaproper for the Japanese proverb 鶴は千年、亀は万年 (Tsuru wa sennen, Kame wa mannen, "Cranes live for 1,000 years, turtles live for 10,000 years"). るる refers to ルル (Lulu), an ubiquitous, household brand of over-the-counter cold medicine. Produced by Daiichi Sankyo since 1951, it is the Japanese cultural equivalent of NyQuil, DayQuil, or Vicks. The more accurate English translation translates the original Japanese proverb and inserts a cold medicine brand name to reflect the Japanese intent. 〜ねん (~nen) is a heavy, stereotypical Kansai dialect (Osakan) emphatic particle; this is reflected in the more accurate English translation as a gruff speaking style. しー (Shii-) is a sharp, whistling inhale through clenched teeth. はーはー (Haa-haa) is a hot, heavy, wheezing exhale. Together, they make for labored breathing associated with severe colds. The English equivalent is writing "wheeze," "cough."
- ↑ わし is the universal Japanese pronoun for an old man. In standard Japanese dictionary definitions, われ means "I" or "oneself" (as in 我々). But in Kansai Yakuza slang, shouting "われ!" at someone is one of the most aggressive, disrespectful ways to say "YOU!" (Equivalent to お前 or きさま, but with a distinctly thuggish, street-brawler flavor). The small Katakana 'yo' (ョ) right in the middle of もう終わりにしョ represents a voice cracking in Japanese typography. The more accurate English translation preserves the thuggish old man register, using equivalent language.
- ↑ The register here is of a whiny child begging their parents to take them home. ううっ is the phonetic spelling of a whimper of someone in misery. からかえらせてぇぇぇっ turns a simple request to return home into a drawn out wail.
- ↑ だんなはん translates to "Master," "Husband," or "Boss." It is traditionally used by merchants or geisha to address a wealthy, male patron. はん is the soft, Kansai-dialect variation of the standard polite suffix さん. しはったら is the Kansai conditional form of しはる, which is a highly respectful (Sonkeigo) way of saying する (to do). It roughly means "if you would be so incredibly gracious and kind as to stop..." わて is an archaic, highly stereotypical first-person pronoun used in the Kansai dialect. ええ is the Kansai pronunciation of いい (good / fine). おなご is a very rustic, archaic, and slightly crude word for a woman, equivalent to the English "dame" and "broad."
- ↑ The register here is pure childishness. おしっこ is the standard, slightly childish word for urine or peeing. Adults in formal settings would use 尿 (nyō) or 小便 (shōben). しーしー is the specific baby-talk onomatopoeia used during potty training. Parents will make a "shiiii" hissing sound to encourage a toddler to urinate into a toilet. Turning that into a verb is the absolute, most infantile way to say "I am going to make a tinkle."
- ↑ ごらん is a gentle, poetic, slightly maternal or theatrical command to "look." うっそでーい is a highly specific, aggressively bratty, early-90s slang corruption. By adding the small tsu (っ), it becomes explosive. By slurring the ending, it adopts the phonetic cadence of a classic Edo-era street urchin (Edokko) or a mischievous gag-manga protagonist (like Crayon Shin-chan or Osomatsu-kun). けっ is onomatopoeia of spitting. It is absolute, unadulterated disrespect.
- ↑ はなたーかだっかー！たーかだっか！ is based on a traditional Japanese idiom 鼻が高い (Hana ga takai, literally "Their nose is high"). The adverbial form is 鼻高々 (Hana takadaka), meaning "proudly" or "triumphantly." By stretching the word out phonetically with long vowel dashes (たーかだっかー / ta-ka dakka-), the idiom becomes a singsong, childish taunt. The more accurate English translation uses an equivalent English idiom turned into a childish taunt.
- ↑ CATS is singing the opening lyrics to the original Astro Boy anime.