Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A fictional character who fits the archetype of having cold and even hostile personality towards another person before gradually showing a warm and caring side over time.
  • noun Plural form of tsundere.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Japanese. From tsun tsun (turn away in disgust) and dere dere (show affection).

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Examples

  • Lynn Minmay was the last realistic female character in anime, calling her tsundere hurts SDF Macross fans.

    AnimeBlogger.net Antenna 2009

  • I suppose her character could be called a tsundere, but it is so much more than that.

    hashihime 橋姫 2009

  • Lynn Minmay was the last realistic female character in anime, calling her tsundere hurts SDF Macross fans.

    AnimeBlogger.net Antenna 2009

  • The former is a rather fiery "tsundere" (harsh at the outset, softens later on) type, played just right, performance-wise, by Ms. Calene-Black.

    Mania News Feed 2010

  • As we've already discussed, Ookami herself is simply the dictionary definition of "tsundere" without any further effort put into her character, and you get the feeling that most of the other major players in the series are similarly straightforward.

    AnimeBlogger.net Antenna 2010

  • Like the definition of a 'tsundere', the definition of the harem genre has been so expanded that some anime that are not exactly harem in the truest sense of the word has been labeled as such.

    Anime Nano! 2009

  • Many would say that Nagi (and Taiga and Shana and Louise for that matter) were just a bunch of tsundere (I still need to do my post on the uselessness of the term 'tsundere') but while I can't claim any greatness of the other two's characters, I will say that Nagi Sanzenin has some real depth.

    Anime Nano! 2009

  • The friendly neighbourhood Animate salespeople prepare to welcome Legendary Girl A. Minorin explodes over the definition of "tsundere".

    Anime Nano! 2008

  • Having him be all "tsundere" (running hot and cold, sarcastic on top but loving underneath)

    世論 What Japan Thinks 2008

  • Having her be all "tsundere" (running hot and cold, sarcastic on top but loving underneath)

    世論 What Japan Thinks 2008

  • As a personality trait, tsundere describes someone who switches back and forth between emotionally clinging to you and wanting nothing to do with you, based on their momentary mood and capricious circumstances

    Japanese people love cats because they’re tsundere, psychologist says Casey Baseel 2019

  • For those not familiar with the term, tsundere is a mash-up of tsuntsun, thornily standoffish, and deredere, intensely sweet and affectionate.

    Japanese people love cats because they’re tsundere, psychologist says Casey Baseel 2019

Comments

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  • "Tsundere (ツンデレ?) (Japanese pronunciation: tsɯndeɽe) is a Japanese character development process which describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing their warm side over time. The word is derived from the terms Tsun Tsun (ツンツン?) , meaning to turn away in disgust, and Dere Dere (デレデレ?) meaning to become 'lovey dovey'.1 Originally found in Japanese bishōjo games, the word is now part of the otaku moe phenomenon,2 reaching into other media such as maid cafes,2 anime, manga, novels, and even mass media.citation needed The term was made popular in the game Kimi ga Nozomu Eien.1"

    -Wikipedia

    October 13, 2010