Quotes
Japanese meaning of 残像だ
— Hiei ／ Yu Yu Hakusho
Voice sample:
ざんぞうだ (Zanzō da.)
English Translation:
That was an afterimage.
Original Scene & Cultural Context
Scene in the Original Work:
In the Dark Tournament, Hiei fights Makintaro of Team Ura Otogi. Makintaro thinks he has hit Hiei, but it was only an afterimage (vol. 9, ch. 79).
日本語で読む
暗黒武術会、裏御伽チームの魔金太郎との戦い。斬ったはずの飛影は、じつは残像だった（9巻79話）。
Cultural Context:
Hiei is a demon who fights with a sword and is extremely fast. He moves so quickly that his opponent strikes only the image left behind.
日本語で読む
飛影は剣を使う妖怪で、とても動きが速い。速すぎて、相手は後に残った姿を攻撃してしまう。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
•「残像」= afterimage; 残 (remain) + 像 (image). •「だ」= plain copula; the short line sounds cool.
日本語で読む
•「残像」は「残る」＋「像（すがた）」で、動いたあとに残って見える姿。•「だ」で短く言い切っている。
Trap for English Speakers
残像 is not a ghost or a magic copy; it's the image your eyes still see after something has moved away.
日本語で読む
「残像」はおばけや分身の術ではなく、動いたあとに目に残って見える姿のこと。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
鬼ごっこでタッチしたと思ったら、するりとよけた子が「残像だ」とにやりと笑った。
In a game of tag, just as I thought I'd touched him, the boy slipped away and grinned: "That was an afterimage."
Example 2Applied Example
（体重計の数字が出た瞬間、とび降りた父が）今のは……残像だ。
(Dad, jumping off the scale the moment the number appeared) "That... was an afterimage."
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「残像だ」 mean?