“Dere” is the part of an anime character label that tells you how that character shows love, and the types of dere are the different ways fans sort those characters: tsundere (cold, then sweet), yandere (sweet, then dangerous), kuudere (calm and unreadable), dandere (quiet and shy), deredere (openly loving) and dozens more. The word comes from the Japanese deredere (デレデレ), which means lovestruck or fawning. Each type pairs that “dere” with a word for how the character acts before, or around, the affection.
Below you will find what “dere” means, a table of the most common types, a closer look at the six big ones, a list of the lesser-known labels, and answers to the questions people ask most.
Dere meaning: where the word comes from
Deredere is an ordinary Japanese mimetic word, not anime slang. It describes someone visibly smitten: fawning over the person they like, doting on them, wanting to be close. Dictionaries gloss it as “in a lovey-dovey or infatuated manner, fawningly.” Japan’s largest dictionary, the Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, records it as early as 1889.
The character-type use started with tsundere, which fans coined in 2002 for a visual novel heroine who was tsun tsun (standoffish) before turning dere dere. Once that word caught on, fans started swapping the first half. Yandere followed in the mid-2000s, kuudere grew out of a 2005 Japanese forum thread (according to Japanese Wikipedia), dandere was being explained by fans by 2008, and the list kept growing. Today fan wikis list around 70, many of them coined by English-speaking fans.
Almost every type follows the same pattern: [how they act normally] + dere. The first half is the surface, and “dere” is the affection underneath it.
All types of dere at a glance
| Type | Meaning of the first half | Typical behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Tsundere | tsun tsun: standoffish, huffy | Cold and prickly, slowly shows a soft side |
| Yandere | yanderu: sick | Sweet and devoted, love turns obsessive and dangerous |
| Kuudere | kuuru: cool | Calm, blunt, expressionless; warmth shows in small ways |
| Dandere | danmari: silent | Barely speaks in groups, talkative and sweet one-on-one |
| Deredere | (all dere) | Cheerful and openly affectionate from the start |
| Himedere | hime: princess, noble lady | Wants to be treated like royalty, learns to give back |
| Oujidere | ouji: prince | The prince version of himedere |
| Kamidere | kami: god | Arrogant, godlike ego that melts into real devotion |
| Mayadere | origin unclear | Intimidating at first, soft with the one they love |
| Bakadere | baka: fool | Ditzy and clumsy, sweet and sincere |
| Hajidere | hajirau: to be bashful | Blushes and freezes around the person they like |
| Kiredere | kireru: snap, lose it | Gets angry when embarrassed, sweet once they calm down |
| Darudere | darui: listless, a bother | Everything is a bother, but they always show up for you |
| Hinedere | hinekure: warped, contrary | Jaded loner who hides a caring side |
| Dorodere | dorodoro: muddy, murky | Sweet on the outside, dark grudges underneath |
| Undere | un: “uh-huh” | Agrees with everything to keep the peace |
| Shundere | shun: sound of getting sad | Sad when ignored, bright when you pay attention |
| Kanedere | kane: money | Starts out after your money, ends up in love |
| Yoidere | yoi: drunkenness | Only shows affection after a drink |
| Nyandere | nyan: meow | Cat-like affection: clingy, playful, head pats |
The main types of dere
Six types show up in almost every list and cover most characters you will meet. Each has its own full guide.
Tsundere: cold outside, soft inside
The original. A tsundere hides feelings behind pride, sarcasm and “it’s not like I did this for you!” denials, then warms up over the story. Vegeta from Dragon Ball is the classic male example: a proud prince who can barely admit he loves his family. Read the full tsundere meaning guide for the origin, the arc and more examples.
Yandere: sweet love that turns dangerous
A yandere starts out as a loving, devoted partner. Then jealousy and fear of losing the other person grow into obsession, and in the story that can mean stalking, threats or violence against rivals. It is a thriller and horror trope: the fun is the tension, not the relationship, and nothing about it is a model for real life. More in our yandere meaning guide, and our take on the yandere girlfriend archetype.
Kuudere: calm, cool and hard to read
A kuudere (from the English “cool”) is composed, blunt and hard to read. They rarely raise their voice or show emotion, so their affection shows up in small, practical ways: remembering what you said, quietly stepping in when you need help. Unlike a tsundere, they are not fighting their feelings, just keeping them private. See the kuudere meaning guide.
Dandere: quiet until they trust you
A dandere is shy, not cold. In a group they say almost nothing and may seem expressionless, but alone with the person they like they become chatty, warm and affectionate. The difference from a kuudere is the reason for the silence: nerves, not composure. More in the dandere meaning guide.
Deredere: openly, cheerfully in love
A deredere has no hidden side. They are upbeat, affectionate and happy to show it in public, clingy in the most endearing way. Every other dere type is, in a sense, a deredere with something in the way. Read the deredere meaning guide.
Himedere: treat me like a princess
A himedere acts like royalty, sometimes literally a noblewoman. They are demanding, proud and expect constant attention. In the classic arc they realize they have been taking without giving, and start pampering the person they love in return. The male version is called oujidere. Full details in the himedere meaning guide.
Other types of dere
These are less common, and some are close to jokes, but you will see them on fan lists and in character descriptions:
- Oujidere – a prince type who wants to be pampered at first, then becomes the gentleman who does the pampering.
- Kamidere – a god or godlike character who looks down on everyone, the love interest included, until love humbles them.
- Mayadere – usually described in English as an antagonist who switches sides for love (more in the FAQ below).
- Bakadere – goofy, forgetful and airheaded, with a big, sincere heart. Also called ahodere.
- Hajidere (or teredere) – so bashful they blush when the person they like walks in, until they finally work up the nerve.
- Kiredere – embarrassment comes out as anger; they snap, then feel bad and soften. Close to a tsundere, but louder.
- Darudere – lazy and listless, complains that everything is a hassle, but never skips time with their love interest.
- Hinedere – cynical and jaded after being hurt, keeps people away, and is secretly very caring.
- Dorodere – looks like a cheerful deredere, but underneath hides grudges and murky thoughts. A cousin of the yandere.
- Deretsun – tsundere in reverse: usually sweet, but turns cold at certain triggers.
- Undere – says “yeah, yeah” to almost everything the love interest wants, to keep things peaceful.
- Shundere – droops when left alone, lights up the moment they get attention.
- Kanedere – starts out interested in money or status, then falls for real. Fujiko Mine, the adult professional thief of Lupin III, is the example fan wikis usually give.
- Yoidere – calm and collected sober, openly affectionate after a drink. Yor Forger from Spy x Family is a well-known example.
- Kekkondere – ready to marry the love interest almost immediately.
- Nyandere – a cat-eared character who is affectionate the way a cat is: clingy, purring, adding “nya” to sentences.
How to tell the dere types apart
Most confusion comes from the “distant at first” types. Ask one question: why is the character holding back?
- Too proud to admit it: tsundere (or kiredere, if it comes out as anger).
- Naturally reserved: kuudere.
- Too shy to speak: dandere (or hajidere, if they talk to everyone except the person they like).
- Thinks they deserve better: himedere, oujidere or kamidere.
- Not holding back at all: deredere. If that love curdles into possessiveness, yandere.
Characters often mix types. A kuudere can have a tsundere streak, and many yanderes start as textbook deredere. The labels describe a pattern, not a rule.
FAQ
What types of dere are there?
The six main types are tsundere, yandere, kuudere, dandere, deredere and himedere. Beyond those, fan wikis list dozens of variations, from oujidere and kamidere to bakadere, darudere and nyandere. Most of the rare ones are niche labels rather than widely used terms.
What is a mayadere?
In English-language lists, a mayadere is a character who starts as an antagonist, often a dangerous one, and switches sides after falling for the protagonist. Some fan lists give a narrower meaning: a character with an intimidating, “scary” aura who turns out to be shy and sweet with the person they love. Both uses share the idea of someone who seems threatening but softens in love.
Are deres only female?
No. The terms began mostly with heroines in Japanese games and anime, but fans now use them for any gender. Vegeta is a famous male tsundere. Some types even have male-specific names: Japanese fans say oranyan for a male tsundere, and English-speaking fans use oujidere for the male himedere.
Is there a freaky dere type?
Not an established one. Fan-made lists include a few flirtatious or joke labels, but none of them is a standard type. If you mean “weird” or “unpredictable,” the closest are bakadere (goofy and chaotic) and dorodere (cheerful surface, dark thoughts underneath). If you mean “scary,” that is the yandere.
What is the rarest dere type?
There is no official count, but labels like undere, yoidere and kekkondere are rarely used outside fan wikis. The six main types are the ones you will actually see in anime discussions and character tags.
Meet a dere type in conversation
Reading about a type is one thing; talking to one is another. On Cherrypop.ai (18+) you can chat with Leon, a tsundere, Kai Nakamura, a yandere, or Kuroha, a kuudere. Prefer a dandere, deredere or himedere? Create your own dere character and pick the personality yourself.