Explainer
What Is a Tsundere? Every "-Dere" Type Explained
"-dere" comes from deredere, meaning lovey-dovey. Each type describes a different way a character shows, or hides, affection.
- Tsundere — Cold and prickly outside, secretly warm. "It's not like I made this for you!" (Taiga, Toradora!)
- Yandere — Sweet until jealousy turns obsessive, even dangerous.
- Kuudere — Cool and seemingly emotionless, with rare warmth (Rei, Evangelion).
- Dandere — Shy and quiet, opening up only with people they trust.
- Deredere — Openly sweet and affectionate, no walls at all.
- Himedere — Acts like a princess who expects to be treated as royalty.
Why fans love them
Archetypes are shorthand: the moment you spot a tsundere, you know the romance will be a slow, funny push-and-pull. Want the full cast of character types beyond romance, the OP MC, the mentor, the rival? See our tropes and archetypes guide. And decode the rest of the lingo in the Jargon Decoder.
See these characters at their best in the manga, then decode the rest of the lingo in the Jargon Decoder.