If you’ve had the chance to watchDragon Ball Zfrom start to end, you’re more than aware already how important dialogue is. It’s just as important as the punches being thrown, and the victories earned by the good guys. Each fight feels significant, as Saiyans, Z-Fighters, and everyone else deliver speeches to emphasize the importance of them winning, and the weight it carries if they come up short.
Among the characters in the show, nobody gets more time to utilize their vocal cords more than Goku. Obviously,he’s the main character of the story, but luckily, his time isn’t wasted with mindless drivel and rah-rah speeches. Goku has the ability to create an impact with his words, and this list will cover ten of Goku’s best speeches from the original Japanese dub.
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10"And Then… This… Is Going Even Further Beyond Super Saiyan…!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 245, “Super Saiyan 3?!”
This is Super Saiyan 3! Sorry it took so much time. I’m still not used to this transformation.
At a time when Majin Buu was thought to be too strong to defeat, Goku managed to ascend to another level. Super Saiyan 2 was the limit at the time, but the greatest Saiyan of all time had a trick up his sleeve.He called it Super Saiyan 3, and the only thing more epic than the transformation was the speech.
I can’t shake the feeling of watching him showcase each transformation, all while having a smirk, knowing what the finish line looks like. Mixed in with beautiful visuals of each transformation, and the music echoing in the scene, this quote is the perfect way to kick off the list.
9"Becoming Super Saiyan Gets Its Start From Anger."
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 156, “Bow To The Prince”
Get angry! Pop off, with a bang! I know! Either me, or Piccolo, or even Krillin – try imagining that one of us is about to be killed by Cell!
During the Androids arc, specifically during the battle with Perfect Cell, Goku took it upon himself to train Gohan. At this point, Gohan had not learned to unlock his Super Saiyan form. As we all know now, this was a pivotal turning point inDragon Ball Z’s story, as Gohan would end up becoming the saving grace of the arc. We don’t talk about what happened in the next arc.
In an attempt to goad Gohan on, Goku calls out names like Piccolo and Krillin, indicating how angry he would become if they died. The Super Saiyan form gets its power from anger, and if there’s one thing that can set Goku and Gohan off, it’s the loss of a friend. It’s actually a complete contrast to Vegeta andTrunks, who both unlocked their power from the anger they held towards themselves.
8"Maybe It Ain’t Fair To Chichi And Gohan, But You Don’t Need To Bring Me Back To Life."
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 192, “Goku’s Decision”
Gohan’s already a lot more reliable than I am. There you have it. Bye, now. Once you all die, I’ll see you again. Bye-bye!
At the conclusion of the Androids arc, afterGohan managed to destroy Perfect Cell, the good guys gathered the dragon balls to wish their friends back. Goku was on that welcome back home list, but he had other plans, asking not to be revived. At first, this caught everyone off guard, but he had a good reason to make such a request.
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Goku pointed out that when he’s alive, powerful enemies are not too far behind to challenge him. If he were to remain deceased, this could potentially put a stop to that, and if not, Gohan had already grown stronger than him. In typical Goku fashion, he managed to still get a good laugh by suggesting he’d see everyone once they died, making light of everyone’s mortality. In even the most serious of moments, you can always count on Goku to get a chuckle out of you.
7"K-Kuririn, Forgive Me, But Let Him Get Away."
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 35, “Mercy”
P-Please… T-This is the only thing I’ll ever ask for myself… but when I saw him nearly dead there, I thought to myself… What a waste.
One of Goku’s biggest flaws, according toDragon Ball Zfans, is his inability to finish off an opponent. Whether it’s letting Frieza off with a warning or handing over a Senzu Bean to Perfect Cell, Goku manages to pull back just before the score can be settled. When he had his change of heart just before Krillin attempted to kill Vegeta, it made a little more sense.
They had a tremendous battle, and Goku felt it would be a waste to just let him die. Goku wanted Vegeta to escape, recover, and grow stronger so that he could fight him another day. The butterfly effect this decision had on the story can’t be overstated enough, as Vegeta would go on to become one of the strongest Saiyans in history, father another, and have one of the best redemption stories in anime.
6"You Did Fine Up To This Point, Gohan."
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 188, “A Hero’s Farewell”
Tell your mom that I’m sorry. I always selfishly did whatever I wanted. Goodbye, Gohan.
There’s nothing quite like a father-son bond, and such a relationship wasn’t as explored early on between Goku and Gohan. For the most part, Gohan was raised by his mother and trained by Piccolo, while Goku was either six feet under or training elsewhere. As a fan, you always wanted to see them have that moment, and it would finally come during the battle with Cell.
Gohan had essentially defeated Cell, but in a last-ditch effort, Cell expanded himself in order to self-destruct and take the planet with him. Realizing the situation, Goku subbed in and delivered one of the most heart-wrenching lines of dialogue inDragon Ball Z. He was sacrificing himself to save everyone, but before he could, he praised his son and asked for forgiveness before disappearing with the ticking time bomb that was Cell.
5"Having To Do As He Told You Must Have Been Worse Than Anything You Could Stand."
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 86, “The End Of Vegeta”
I hated you so much… but you had your Saiyan pride. And now I too will share in some of that pride of yours. I am a Saiyan raised on Earth!
After taking a blast to the chest from Frieza,Vegeta detailed his painful backstoryto Goku during his final moments while alive. He exposed Frieza as the tyrant he was, and the true cause of Planet Vegeta’s destruction. The tragic story that was Vegeta’s past was now in the open, and it was truly hard to see such a strong and proud character reduced to tears, choking for air.
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As unserious and comical as Goku is known to be, this moment was one that saw the complete opposite side of him. As he buried Vegeta, he mourned his loss and understood the pain Vegeta had carried along with him. It was a Saiyan awakening in Goku at the same time, as he promised to carry that proud heritage with him, but still acknowledging that he was from Earth. Goku referring to himself as a Saiyan for the first time was a peak moment for me.
4"Even A Left-Behind Might Be Able To Overcome An Elite, If He Tries Desperately Enough."
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 30, “Goku vs. Vegeta”
And as a result of being a left-behind, I was sent to Earth here? I should be thankful.
During the battle between Vegeta and Goku that I had mentioned earlier,the Prince of all Saiyanswas as arrogant as you could imagine. Throughout their exchange, Vegeta reminded Goku that he was a lower-class Saiyan, while Vegeta himself was an Elite, the highest-class Saiyan. In his mind, Goku didn’t stand a chance, and he was a joke to someone as powerful as Vegeta.
How the tides turned in that fight, as Goku exposed Vegeta’s weaknesses and managed to get the upper hand several times during their battle. Goku indicates that if he tries hard enough, he can win, and that’s always been Goku’s mentality: to keep going, no matter what. I also appreciated the nice touch of him being thankful to have been sent to Earth, because he eventually became the man he is today due to this choice.
3"This Time, Get Reborn As A Good Guy!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 286, “Spirit Bomb Triumphant”
I want to fight you, one-on-one. I’ll be waiting for you! And I will have gotten much, much better! See you later!
Another point made earlier in this list was Goku’s tendency to let the bad guy go, or let off the hook during a fight. Well, this time around, Goku used a Spirit Bomb to destroy Kid Buu, but ended up making a wish for him just before the attack landed. Wishing for Kid Buu to be reborn as a good person, something that inevitably ended up happening with the introduction of Uub.
Get it? Uub, the backward-spelling of Buu? Goku indeed got his wish and found Uub sometime later, towards the conclusion ofDragon Ball Z. And as he promised, Goku embarked on a new adventure with his apprentice, wrapping up his character’s story perfectly. Goku wouldn’t be Goku if he wasn’t fighting, or at least training someone.
2"Enough Is Enough, You Scumbag!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 96, “Explosion Of Anger”
You’ve killed so many blameless people, one after the other… You even killed Krillin…!
The Saiyan race all have something in common, and that is, when they go Super Saiyan, they become really, really cool. After unlocking his Super Saiyan form,Goku catches Frieza off guard, overwhelming him with power, and even blocking attacks while crushing Frieza’s fist. It’s not just actions either, it was also Goku’s first lines of dialogue during his transformation.
Calling Frieza a scumbag, Goku told him that enough was enough, and that he’d pay for what he’d done to his friends. Not only does he hold Frieza accountable for the many deaths he caused, but Goku also mentions Krillin by name, which is an important detail. Frieza likely didn’t know Krillin by name, so to bring that up to Frieza, Goku made sure he knew how he killed before beginning his beatdown on the Galactic Emperor, in true poetic justice.
1"As You Are Surely Well Aware… I Am The Saiyan Who Came From Earth To Defeat You."
Despite my calm, quiet heart, I am the legendary warrior awakened by anger. I am the Super Saiyan, Son Goku!!
English dub fans may remember this Goku speech alittledifferently, but for good reason. The translation added a ton of fluff to his speech, making him sound like a true Superman, when in the original Japanese dub, Goku is cocky and arrogant, and keeps it short and sweet. The English dub line of “You didn’t say please” is also a complete re-write, as the original is way more effective with Goku challenging Frieza to hit him with a blast.
That’s really the main problem with Western translations and making them more suitable for the English-speaking audience. Too much context is added when the Japanese dialogue keeps it almost to a minimum. Less is more, and the more the English dub added, the less impactful every last line felt.
Considering Goku lands this short but effective speech moments after being hit with a blast to the face, and the fact that it sent shivers down Frieza’s spine, is what makes this the best quote of Goku’s from the Japanese dub. The crazy thing about the battle with Frieza is that you could make a list of quotes from just the number of episodes involving them.
Dragon Ball Z
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