Yare yare daze is a Japanese expression commonly localized as "Good grief," though the nuance is closer to weary exasperation or resignation. It is the signature catchphrase of Jotaro Kujo, the protagonist of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, and one of the most-recognized lines in anime.
The phrase is a verbal sigh — the equivalent of an unimpressed exhale. "Good grief" is the most common official subtitle, though "Oh boy," "Geez," and "What a pain" all capture the same flavor. Jotaro uses it the way an unflappable character reacts to absurdity: when faced with something foolish, exhausting, or just typical.
Word by word:
Yare yare (やれやれ) — a Japanese interjection expressing exasperation, resignation, or relief.
daze (だぜ) — a masculine, casual sentence-ending particle. Jolyne Cujoh, Jotaro's daughter, uses the feminine variant yare yare dawa (やれやれだわ).
Approximately: YAH-reh YAH-reh DAH-zeh.
Four even syllables in yare yare, two in daze. The phrase is delivered casually, not punched — note that Japanese uses pitch accent rather than English-style stress, so any "emphasis" cues are approximations.
Jotaro Kujo is the protagonist of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, the third arc of Hirohiko Araki's long-running manga, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1989 to 1992. The 2014 anime adaptation by David Production introduced Jotaro to a much wider international audience.
Jotaro uses "yare yare daze" throughout Stardust Crusaders and continues to reach for it in his later appearances across JoJo Parts 4, 5, and 6. Within the series, it became his verbal calling card — paired with his sharp glare and the rapid "ORA ORA ORA!" battle cry of his Stand, Star Platinum.
The phrase has spread far beyond JoJo into broader anime fandom and general internet culture, often used as a wry caption on reaction images. It is widely recognized by fans who have never seen a single episode of JoJo, and is one of the most-quoted lines when listing iconic anime catchphrases.
This phrase appears in JoJo · Bizarre Voices on PlotLuck Anime.
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