Yandere is a Japanese term for a character who is very loving and gentle to someone to start with, but becomes destructive in their devotion. Learn more about the meaning , pronunciation, and usage of yandere in anime and other contexts. The Meaning of Yandere The term yandere comes from the combination of two Japanese words: “Yanderu” (病んでる): Meaning “to be sick” or “mentally ill,” this reflects the psychological instability or obsession characteristic of the archetype. “Deredere” (デレデレ): A Japanese onomatopoeia for “lovey-dovey” or “affectionate,” representing the character’s intense devotion to their romantic interest. Together, the term yandere describes a character who appears ... Meaning of Yandere basics A yandere is an anime character who is obsessive, often delusional, and sometimes violent or dangerous towards the person they love. Yandere is also a term that can be applied to a person who is experiencing a first-love obsession. In recent years, " yandere characters" from anime, manga, and games have been gaining attention. At first glance, they may appear cute, but their intense love and possessiveness toward a specific person often lead them to display behavior that borders on madness. The term " yandere " is a combination of "yanderu" (mentally ill) and "dere-dere" (lovey-dovey), referring to characters whose overwhelming affection drives them into an unstable psychological state, sometimes leading to extremely ...