Why does Funimation refuse to acknowledge the term "Ki"?

[Bajosexto]

Ki is simply the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word "Chi" or "Qi" (same as "Shenron" is for "Shen Long" or "Shuushinchuu" is for "Si Xing Qiu"), a concept which has existed for thousands upon thousands of years. Saying that Toriyama "invented" the word for Dragon Ball would be not unlike saying that he also invented the concept of "martial arts" for Dragon Ball: myths and folklore surrounding Chi/Qi/Ki are roughly almost as old as the idea of traditional Chinese martial arts themselves.

Interesting. I knew that Ki was related to the Chinese word Chi, but not that it was just the Japanese pronounciation of the word. Since I've only heard the word Ki used in Dragon Ball, I thought that maybe Toriyama had invented the word based on the Chinese word Chi.

I heard the term in Outlaw Star, though the Bandai release translates it as "chi" in the subtitles. But you do hear "ki" in the dub, (which I prefer to the sub actually). No clue whether Funimation in their re-release just uses the subtitles that Bandai used, or did their own translation.

Dragon Ball is literally the only show where I've heard the term Ki. But I don't really watch anime, Japanese films or Chinese films other than some Jackie Chan and Jet Li movies which I watch dubbed. I'm sure Ki is used on other Japanese shows/movies now that I know it is just the Japanese pronounciation of Chi. I just always thought that "Ki" was a Dragon Ball exclusive term.

[Cure Dragon 255]

I heard it on Hikari Sentai Maskman! Heck its in the very opening!

KI KI! AURA POWER!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_HzzV-ylEw

[KBABZ]

Not sure how relevant this is given that this is ViZ we're talking about, but in the Full Color manga (which uses the old script but with better formatting) Goku gives his reasoning for abandoning the fight with Frieza as "You've burned out your power, so your Chi is dropping fast..."

Sounds like a weird distinction to make, that to him power and Chi are different. But I'm sure there's a part of the culture I don't know about that would explain it.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

For some reason it is completely okay to use untranslated Japanese words only if we personally use them. But if someone says "Juuhachigo" then they are somehow weebs. (Yes I know Juuhachigo literary meas eighteen. I do think it's a little silly to use Juuhachigo intead of just 18. I'm just using this as an example) But using "Majin"? No. That doesn't make you a weeb. I grew up with that term. My dub uses it. See my point?

I agree with you. No one really has consistency in which terms they translate and which they keep as is. For example, pretty much everyone uses God of Destruction and not the untranslated term "Hakaishin", but these same people (me included) use Kaioshin or Kais instead of the translated Gods of Gods/Lords of Lords. Kaioshin or Lords of Lords, they're both acceptable. 18 or Juuhachigo, it's probably easier to just say 18. In the end it comes down to personal preference. Just let people use whatever they want to use. I do. Even if REALLY bothers me when someone uses Tien instead of Tenshinhan.

It is funny but I don't think I have ever seen anyone use "Turtle Destruction Wave" instead KMH. Also Kaioken as "King Kai/Kaio fist" despite Toei's subs for DBS doing so.

I seen comments where people are like they wish the dub terms didn't exist but regardless of them I feel like this would still be an issue today, not everyone is gonna use the same terms, see Bulma/Blooma. At the same time I am glad of this as it makes DB pretty unique as a series that people can use different names and terminology etc.

[Polyphase Avatron]

Ki isn't an English word, silly. That's why.

I used it in Scrabble once.

[linkdude20002001]

In regards to the word ki, I feel like it's pretty stupid to CHANGE it to "energy". I mean, it's not the same thing. Ki would translate into English as "qi", which by the way is pronounced [chœ] (like the I in Jiaozi, which is written in Japanese as "Chaozu"), tho I suppose a vowel sound like the U in put would be acceptable since we don't really use the œ-sound anymore...even tho the dictionary says to pronounce it that way anyway for some reason... Oh, but the British dictionary says to pronounce it [chee], which is how I've always heard it pronounced here in Washington, USA. The lesson of the day? English-language dictionary's should NOT be followed.

And despite what I just said, I will now quote the dictionary's definition of qi: "(in traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy) the vital life force that flows through the body and is supposedly regulated by acupuncture.". That's quite a bit different from 'energy', which is more like 'vigor' than "life force".

It is funny but I don't think I have ever seen anyone use "Turtle Destruction Wave" instead KMH.

"Turtle Destruction Wave" isn't a translation of かめはめ波. It only translates to "Kamehame Wave" (like in the Creative Products dub). Of course, translating it ruins the pun behind it (Kamehameha the Great), so leaving it untranslated is generally preferred. Thus "Kamehame-Ha".

[KBABZ]

Dumb alternate idea: to avoid paying royalties to these guys:




(yes I know it's dumb but I've been wanting to make this joke for a while)

[Cure Dragon 255]

I laughed, thanks KBABZ

[floofychan333]

Y'know, this is actually quite puzzling. The video games (or at least Xeno 2) use ki and I've always known that was the proper term. I've seen Chi used more in things I've seen (besides DB) so as far as I'm aware that's the more common term.

[SuperCyan2]

Batman is a proper noun. It's his name, so you wouldn't translate it. Ki isn't a proper noun.

Well, there are some really odd translations out in the world you'd never really expect to be official. Some go really way too far by how accurate they want to be with its original name.

One that springs to mind, King Cold was apparently translated to "Rei Frio" or something on the Portuguese Dragon Ball Kai series. In Spain, they used to translate Cell as Célula which makes sense but totally unnecessary.

Other strange translations/adaptations:
Majin Boo = Bubu (Portugal)
Son Gohan = Songohanda (Spain)
Son Goku = Songoku (France/Portugal)
Mr. Satan = Hercule/Hercules (France/Spain/Portugal/America/Canada)
Chichi = Kika/Milk (Portugal/Mexico)
Trunks = Trunk (Spain)
Piccolo = Petit Coeur/Satan/Coraçãozinho de Satã (France/Spain/Portugal)
Saiyan = Warrior (France/Spain/Portugal)

Thank god we're done with these horrid names... sorta.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

Batman is a proper noun. It's his name, so you wouldn't translate it. Ki isn't a proper noun.

Well, there are some really odd translations out in the world you'd never really expect to be official. Some go really way too far by how accurate they want to be with its original name.

One that springs to mind, King Cold was apparently translated to "Rei Frio" or something on the Portuguese Dragon Ball Kai series. In Spain, they used to translate Cell as Célula which makes sense but totally unnecessary.

Other strange translations/adaptations:
Majin Boo = Bubu (Portugal)
Son Gohan = Songohanda (Spain)
Son Goku = Songoku (France/Portugal)
Mr. Satan = Hercule/Hercules (France/Spain/Portugal/America/Canada)
Chichi = Kika/Milk (Portugal/Mexico)
Trunks = Trunk (Spain)
Piccolo = Petit Coeur/Satan/Coraçãozinho de Satã (France/Spain/Portugal)
Saiyan = Warrior (France/Spain/Portugal)

Thank god we're done with these horrid names... sorta.

I am trying to replace any instance of people calling "Trunks" with "Trunk" in my head and I am sat here giggling to myself it sounds so funny "are you okay Trunk". Bahaha. I am easily amused.

[Jackalope89]

"Bubu give you BIG booboo!"

But I doubt it goes like that in Portuguese.