History Main / IWillDefinitelyProtectYou

--> '''Protagonist:''' I will definitely protect you!
--> '''Love Interest:''' Don't say things that can be misunderstood!

Seen often in anime and manga, ''"Zettai ni mamoru"'' (絶対に守る) is almost always literally translated as "I will definitely protect you"[[hottip:*:Although since nouns and pronouns are usually dropped in Japanese whenever they can be inferred from context, it can also mean "I'll definitely protect him/her/it" depending on context.]]. It's a [[JapaneseStockPhrases Japanese Stock Phrase]] that sounds weird and stilted when translated literally, as the above exchange demonstrates.

"zettai" can mean, "definitely," "absolutely" or "unconditionally." "mamoru" can mean "to protect" or "to defend" or "''to obey''". So, depending on context, it could mean one of several things:

* As an offhand statement, it can mean [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin exactly what it sounds like]]: a boast of "I will definitely protect you!" (Optionally followed by [[FlexingThoseNonBiceps exaggerated]] [[BicepPolishingGesture flexing]].)
* Used in a serious tone, it's equivalent to a promise of [[BackToBackBadasses "I've got your back"]] or [[GoThroughMe "they'll have to go through me first"]] depending on the situation.
* Used in a tender or personal conversation means something like, [[{{Squee}} "I will always be there for you."]] (A ''very'' serious commitment to your partner in this context.)

You'll probably see it most often in UnwantedHarem comedies. The characters don't exactly have the same feelings towards each other. Hero thinks it's a friendly relationship. Partner is secretly in love with them. Our oblivious Hero boasts, "I will definitely protect you!" Our confused Partner thinks they are confessing their life-long devotion. S/he will have an InnerMonologue, or occasionally even say out loud, "Why would they say something like that to me?" or "Don't say things that can be misunderstood!" HilarityEnsues.

Used more straight in series where a hero [[TookALevelInBadAss Takes A Level In Bad Ass]]. After they say "I will definitely protect you" to their partner, the [[RelationshipUpgrade relationship has changed]] and they will now start to take a bigger role as the series' resident BadAss. (Although if they happen to be the BadAss in an UnwantedHarem series... seeing a pattern here?)

In an actual romantic context, it's a very intimate promise to always be there for your partner; possibly to the extent of the equivalent of a marriage proposal depending on the scene. And even more confusing to English-speakers to leave it literally translated as "I will definitely protect you" than the previous two examples.

See now how it can be the perfect setup for a Comedic Misunderstanding between Our Hero and Heroine?

''Because'' the meaning is very much based on context, it [[FridgeBrilliance actually makes sense]] to translate it literally and leave it there. Giving it the correct contextual translation would completely miss the point of the original misunderstanding. However if someone is not familiar with the full potential of the native phrase, you're going to wind up confused as to why there is a misunderstanding in the first place. (It's questionable if translators actually think about this aspect or just [[BlindIdiotTranslation go with a literal translation.]])

Compare with the western (especially British) equivalent in period works: "Please allow me to ensure that no one will offend your honour."

''"Zettai ni mamoru"'' is not to be confused with ''[[ThePolice Zenyatta Mondatta]]'', which is something quite different.
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]
* [[RurouniKenshin Kenshin]] gives several of them, but the biggest is to Tomoe.
--> '''Kenshin''': The happiness you lost during this chaos, this time... I will protect it for you.
* BlueSeed: Kusanagi to Momiji.
* Manga/AiYoriAoshi: Used between Kaoru and Aoi to show how close their relationship is. (In an interesting inversion of roles, Aoi also says it to Kaoru [[PluckyGirl to show how serious she is about being with him.]])
* Manga/BlackCat: Train lets [[spoiler: Kyoko]] know he will definitely protect her [[spoiler: after her HeelFaceTurn]], as long as she keeps her promise not to hurt anyone anymore. (Although she's already got quite a crush on Train, she doesn't misunderstand his serious meaning.)
* Manga/{{Bleach}} : [[spoiler: Ichigo to Orihime when he visits her at the hospital.]] So much that, when he dies via Ulquiorra, he ''becomes a Hollowfied zombie'' whose biggest instinct is to protect [[spoiler: Orihime]] no matter what.
** Ever since they were kids, Hitsugaya repetedly told his adoptive sister Hinamori thar he'd always protect her. [[spoiler: Did NOT go as planned, via Aizen's epic trolling.]]
* [[EurekaSeven Renton]] will ''definitely'' protect Eureka!
* Shinn says this several times to Stella in ''GundamSEEDDestiny''.
* Used and abused in ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'', where ChasteHero Hayate uses this on his {{Tsundere}} {{ojou}} Nagi. Nagi has a crush on him, and believes that he initiated the relationship. Neither of them ever bother to check for confirmation on meaning. HilarityEnsues.
** Of course Hayate's innocent naivety leaves him ''completely'' oblivious to any possible implications so he keeps saying it...
* In episode 23 of ''{{Heroman}}'' Joey tries to tell this Lina, but while the viewers can just hear him, the helicopter that's come for him drowns him out, and as a result Lina couldn't hear him. However, if the scene where she leaves her house is any indication, she knew that that's what he was trying to tell her.
* {{Is}} ''Ichitaka:'' '''"I will protect Iori-chan for my entire life!"'''
* [[IchigoOneHundredPercent Ichigo 100%]]: Manaka says to Satsuki, "I will protect you to the full extent of my abilities!" (meaning against the pervs in the Film Studies Club). She blushes and thinks to herself, "He just said he was going to protect me ... what the hell was he talking about!"
* ''Manga/{{Inumimi}}'': Yuichro [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/inumimi/v02/c008/20.html says it to Rino]] when she is mad at him for not adequately protecting the house. Of course [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/inumimi/v02/c008/21.html she is flustered]] that he would say such a thing.
* ''{{InuYasha}}'': While it's not the exact phrase, the verb ''mamoru'' is used, complete with subtext, shortly after Inuyasha acquires the Tessaiga, when he is fighting Sesshoumaru. After Kagome starts to cry at the fact that Sesshoumaru could quite possibly kill her, Inuyasha responds by saying, "Shut up! I'm saying I'll protect you!" This leads Kagome to wonder, "did he really just say he'd protect me?"
* KashimashiGirlMeetsGirl: Tomari to Hazumu, several times, possibly foreshadowing the ending
* ''LiarGame'': Said to Nao by Akiyama at the beginning of the second revival round.
** Not to mention a bit of ShipTease there.
* This sort of thing happens in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' a lot; Negi is [[PapaWolf very adamant]] about protecting his students.
** When he says it to [[{{Tsundere}} Asuna she berates him.... and then can't stop blushing for the rest of the day.]]
** Setsuna. Obviously the first one [[BodyguardCrush given what she does]] but [[EveryoneCanSeeIt everyone else attaches the second one]]. [[spoiler: It's the reason she was chosen in the first place.]]
* ''MyBalls'': [[spoiler: Kohta is feeling [[IncrediblyLamePun cocky]] after losing his virginity and says this to Elyse when demons take over the town]]
* Naruto Uzumaki from {{Naruto}} has a tendency to want to protect everyone, especially his love interest Sakura from danger.
* PonyoOnTheCliffByTheSea: An adorable, innocent usage of the third type:
--> '''Sosuke:''' Don't worry Ponyo, I will always protect you. I promise.
* ''{{Rahxephon}}'': This is a major theme and, in [[SuperRobotWarsMX SRW MX]], one of Ayato's battle quites is him yelling this (doesn't have the "definitely" part but HotBlood compensates).
* ''RosarioToVampire'': Tsukune says it a few times to the harem after he starts getting his [[TookALevelInBadAss Bad Ass Power Up]], mostly with the second meaning, but leaning towards the third when [[OfficialCouple he says it to Moka]].
* [[ShakuganNoShana Shana]] frequently says this of her BattleCouple partner, Yuji.
* ''ToLoveRu'': Rito causes much confusion amongst the UnwantedHarem with this phrase
* ''{{Uragiri Wa Boku No Namae Wo Shitteiru}}'': Luka to Yuki.
* In ''Manga/VideoGirlAi'', Youta says "I will protect you, no matter what!" as he's trying to protect Ai from being destroyed by Mai. Very much a combination of #2 and #3, since he's taking a beat-down while telling Mai that he wants to be with Ai forever.
* ''LightNovel/ZeroNoTsukaima''
* In the ''SandsOfDestruction'' manga, {{Badass Adorable}} [[EverythingisWorseWithBears Toppi]] tells [[TheHeart Ky]][[TheMessiah rie]] this when they're first introduced in the manga. He continues to tell him this and be protective of him all because he showed him compassion despite the fact he was the one thirsty after wandering the desert for three days. The trend continues in the anime and video game.
* [[LesYay Female to female example]]: [[FaustianRebellion Homura]] said this to Madoka in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. The sound you just heard is the collective mental {{Squee}} of {{Yuri Fan}}s worldwide.
-->'''Homura''': "No matter how many [[GroundhogDayLoop times I must repeat it]], I will save you from the depth of despair."
* Non-romantic example: Seiichirou Aoki in the Manga/{{X1999}} movie tells Nataku during their fight "I ''will'' protect those I love" ("boku wa aisuru mono wa mamoritai!" is his more or less literal phrase). [[spoiler: And pulls a TakingYouWithMe. Which in ''this'' context is more like a StupidSacrifice, sadly.]]
* Played with in chapter 58 of ''KaichouWaMaidSama''; after their mutual LoveConfession, Usui tells Misaki that being with him is likely to make trouble for her and he "can't say anything as irresponsible as 'I'll definitely protect you,'" but he still wants to be with her because he loves her. Misaki gets mad at him for thinking she wants to be protected, and says that ''she'' will protect ''him.''
* In ''Manga/WildRock'', Emba swears to devote his life to protecting Yuuen and promises that his soul will continue to even after he dies.
* Endou tends to utter this on occasion in the ''InazumaEleven'' anime. Except instead of the subject being a female character, he's usually referring to either the goal or a one-point lead. This ''is'' "the universe's number one soccer freak" we're talking about here.
* In episode 8 of ''DNAngel'' Saehara says this to Kurashima Menou. And in episode 26 Daisuke says this to Riku.
* A plantonic version occurs in ''[[{{Eyeshield21}} Eyeshield 21]]'' when linesman Banba says to his quarterback Harou, who knows he's an average player at best and is frightened by the extreme power of their next opponent the Hakushuu Dinosaurs who are known for breaking the opposing quarterbacks. [[spoiler: While the Taiyo Sphinx ultimately lost, Banba kept his promise to make sure that Harou wouldn't be harmed at the cost of him being badly hurt by Gaou.]]
* [[HoYay Gokudera to Tsuna]] in ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn''.
* Another HoYay example is Akise to Yuki in ''Manga/MiraiNikki''.
** [[{{Yandere}} Yuno]] to Yuki.
* This is said very often in Anime/SailorMoon. Sailor Moon will protect Mamoru and her friends, her friends will protect her and each other, and Mamoru will protect her too. Although in Mamoru's case, it's usually retrospective laments about failing to protect her.
* Used non-romantically in ''PrincessKnight'', when Sapphire says that she'll protect the female knight helping her escape a dungeon (they're being attacked by enemy guards). The female knight's response is to tell Sapphire to stop [[ValuesDissonance talking like a man]], because it's confusing.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Manhwa]]
* In ''Literature/{{Id}}'', Id does this with Ilrina [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/id/v09/c054/24.html here]].
* In ''Manhwa/TheBreaker'', protagonist Shi Woon says something along this line to Sosul while trying to rescue her from a gang. Shi Woon didn't mean it romantically, but eventually Sosul develops a crush on him because of it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', this is [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII the Onion Knight]]'s promise to [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Terra]], as an [[MythologyGag allusion]] to Locke.
** In VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII Vaan had made a similar promise to her after rescuing her from Kefka's control in the twelfth cycle. Even though she has no memory of this as a result of the purification process performed by [[spoiler:Shinryu]] in the initiation of the thirteenth cycle, something clearly resonated within Terra with this promise.
* In the Japanese dialogue of the first ''[[MegaManStarForce Ryuusei no Rockman]]'' game, Subaru (as Rockman) says the exact phrase to a scared Luna. (It's definitely the serious tone variety, as he doesn't show much romantic interest in Luna, but he's constantly bent on making sure his friends don't get hurt.) In the English ''MegaManStarForce'', it was translated as "I'll protect you! Count on it!"
* In VideoGame/TalesOfInnocence, Luca defends Iria when she is accused of betraying the group by [[spoiler:Chitose]]. Spada also pulls this with Luca throughout the entire game, and becomes dead set on it after Luca is stabbed and in a coma for days.
* Luke and Tear have a scene like around this phrase during the catalyst weapons sidequest in VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss.
* The theme of VideoGame/TalesOfGraces, especially prelevant with Asbel's FailureKnight status and his [[TheDeterminator promise to protect Sophie and Richard]]. The characters, both male and female, will be saying "mamoru" so often that you can make a drinking game out of it. The opening theme song is even titled "Mamoritai ~ White Wishes".
* GirlsLove version: said by [[TheHunter Uzu]][[ActionGirl ki]] to [[SupernaturallyDeliciousAndNutritious Ke]][[EvenTheGirlsWantHer i]] in the VisualNovel ''AkaiIto''. Heck yeah, Uzuki's route is all about her keeping this promise and Kei believing in her no matter what!
** {{Aoi Shiro}} has a similar promise of protection on Yasumi's route.
* Western Example: In ''DragonAge: Origins'', you can say this to [[BlackMagicianGirl Morrigan]] after [[spoiler:defeating ([[EldritchAbomination for]] [[StayingAlive now]]) Flemeth and preventing her from potentially hijacking her body.]]
* Inverted by Siskier in ''BlazeUnion'' when Garlot is worrying that his friends might be hurt or killed in the escalating battles they face--she tells him it will be all right because she knows he'll protect everyone.
* The phrase is used repeatedly in ''VideoGame/{{Hakuouki}}'', especially at the end of Saito Hajime's route when, after spending the entire game stoically insisting that he will protect Chizuru because those are his orders, he finally declares that he will definitely protect her because he ''chooses'' to.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* [[http://fixalted.bazzalisk.org/index.php?title=Manual_of_Exalted_Power:_Abyssals This]] ''{{Exalted}}'' errata (scroll down to Resonance and Lunar Mates), which is also an (extremely rare) CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming of the Abyssal Exalted. That's right, declaring "IWillDefinitelyProtectYou" to his or her Lunar mate allows an Abyssal to ''[[FaustianRebellion turn against his or her]] undead EldritchAbomination master''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* In, of all places, ''Seussical'', Horton the Elephant has one of the more badass lines in musical theatre. After a series of very bad occurrences, with him left looking after an egg, he gives us this line. While the impact is lessened out of context, coming where it does in the show it's actually a TearJerker.
--> "Who would have thought, you'd be left up to me? A fool of an elephant, up in a tree. Well ''this'' time I swear I'll do ''better'' than try! I'll protect you from harm.... Yes I'll do it or die."
* In ''TheCatAndTheCanary'', Paul emphatically tells Anna "I'll protect you" the first time they are alone with each other. He says he's not afraid of anything, but he's easily scared.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* At the end of the original DenshaOtoko thread, Train_Man says about Hermes:
--> "If anything ever does happen, I'll protect her so it's 0k"
[[/folder]]
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* [[HoYay Gokudera to Tsuna]] in ''KatekyoHitmanReborn''.
* Another HoYay example is Akise to Yuki in ''MiraiNikki''.

* This is said very often in Anime/SailorMoon. Sailor Moon will protect Mamoru and her friends, her friends will protect her and each other, and Mamoru will protect her too. Although in Mamoru's case, it's usually retrospective laments about failing to protect her.

* GirlsLove version: said by [[TheHunter U]][[TallDarkAndBishoujo zu]][[ActionGirl ki]] to [[SupernaturallyDeliciousAndNutritious Ke]][[EvenTheGirlsWantHer i]] in the VisualNovel ''AkaiIto''. Heck yeah, Uzuki's route is all about her keeping this promise and Kei believing in her no matter what!

''Because'' the meaning is very much based on context, it [[FridgeBrilliance actually makes sense]] to translate it literally and leave it there. Giving it the correct contextual translation would completely miss the point of the original misunderstanding. However if someone is not familiar with the full potential of the native phrase, you're going to wind up confused as to why there is a misunderstanding in the first place. (It's questionable if translators actually think about this aspect or just [[BlindIdiotTranslation go with a literal translation.]])

--> '''Him:''' I will definitely protect you!
--> '''Her:''' Don't say things that can be misunderstood!

Seen often in anime and manga, ''"Zettai ni mamoru"'' (絶対に守る) is almost always literally translated as "I will definitely protect you"[[hottip:*:Although since nouns and pronouns are usually dropped in Japanese whenever they can be inferred from context, it can also mean "I'll definitely protect him/her/it" depending on context.]] and is usually spoken by a male to a female. It's a [[JapaneseStockPhrases Japanese Stock Phrase]] that sounds weird and stilted when translated literally, as the above exchange demonstrates.

* As an offhand statement, it can mean [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin exactly what it sounds like]]: a macho boast of "I will definitely protect you!" (Optionally followed by [[FlexingThoseNonBiceps manly]] [[BicepPolishingGesture flexing]].)

You'll probably see it most often in UnwantedHarem comedies. The boy and the girl don't exactly have the same feelings towards each other. He thinks it's a friendly relationship. She is secretly in love with him. Our oblivious hero boasts, "I will definitely protect you!" Our confused heroine thinks he is confessing his life-long devotion to her. She will have an InnerMonologue, or occasionally even say out loud, "Why would he say something like that to me?" or "Don't say things that can be misunderstood!" HilarityEnsues.

Used more straight in series where a male lead [[TookALevelInBadAss Takes A Level In Bad Ass]]. After he says "I will definitely protect you" to the girl, their [[RelationshipUpgrade relationship has changed]] and he will now start to take a bigger role as the series' resident BadAss. (Although if he happens to be the BadAss in an UnwantedHarem series... seeing a pattern here?)

* As an offhand statement, it can mean pretty much [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin exactly what it sounds like]]: a macho boast of "I will definitely protect you!" (Optionally followed by [[FlexingThoseNonBiceps manly]] [[BicepPolishingGesture flexing]].)

* Used in a tender or personal conversation means something like, [[{{Squee}} "I will always be there for you."]] (it seems to also be considered a ''very'' serious commitment to your partner in this context.)

* Manga/{{Bleach}} : [[spoiler: Ichigo to Orihime when he visits her at the hospital. So much that, when he dies via Ulquiorra, he pretty much ''becomes a Hollowfied zombie'' whose biggest instinct is to protect Orihime no matter what.]]
** And ever since they were kids, Hitsugaya repetedly told his adoptive sister Hinamori thar he'd always protect her. [[spoiler: Did NOT go as planned, via Aizen's epic trolling.]]

* In episode 23 of ''{{Heroman}}'' Joey tries to tell this Lina, but while the viewers can just hear him, the helicopter that's come for him drowns him out, and as a result Lina couldn't hear him. However, if the scene where she leaves her house is any indication, she pretty much knew that that's what he was trying to tell her.

** It also turns out that [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII Vaan]] had made a similar promise to her after rescuing her from Kefka's control in the twelfth cycle. Even though she has no memory of this as a result of the purification process performed by [[spoiler:Shinryu]] in the initiation of the thirteenth cycle, something clearly resonated within Terra with this promise.

* Pretty much the ENTIRE THEME of VideoGame/TalesOfGraces, especially prelevant with Asbel's FailureKnight status and his [[TheDeterminator promise to protect Sophie and Richard]]. The characters, both male and female, will be saying "mamoru" so often that you can make a drinking game out of it. The opening theme song is even titled "Mamoritai ~ White Wishes".