otoko 男, 漢 - Meaning in Japanese

In Japanese, otoko 男 means a "man." This article, however, is mostly about the slang otoko 漢, which means a "MAN," as in a real man, a manly man, a man among men.

Character: Mikami Satoru 三上悟
Anime: Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken, 転生したらスライムだった件 (Episode 1)

• otoko (jishou)
  漢（自称）
  Man among men (self-proclaimed).

This is more like a meme than a word, showing up in manga and anime from time to time.

• Slang
• Examples

Slang

The manga slang otoko 漢 is an ateji, that is, we're spelling with a certain kanji a word that's normally spelled with different kanji, in this case, otoko 男.

In this case, 漢 is the kanji for "man" in Chinese. Normally, it can only be read as kan 漢 in Japanese, like in chikan 痴漢, "foolish man," "molester."

Another manga slang that's also an ateji is this:

• {otoko no} ko
  男の子
  A child [that] {is a man}.
  A {male} child.
  A boy.
  • This is a normal word.
• {otoko no} ko
  男の娘
  A girl [that] {is a man}.
  A {male} girl.
  • This is a manga slang for a heroine that's actually male, i.e. a boy that looks like a girl, a.k.a. a "trap."

Examples

For reference, another example:

Manga: One Punch Man, Wanpanman ワンパンマン (Chapter 157)

• Context: "Metal Bat," Kinzoku Batto 金属バット, explains why he's stronger after suffering injuries.
• otoko wa {dare ka wo mamoru} toki ni ichiban chikara ga deru mon daro
  漢は誰かを守る時に一番力が出るもんだろ
  A man [is at his strongest] when {[he] is protecting someone}, isn't that right?
  • chikara ga deru
    力が出る
    Power gets out. (literally.)
    Strength bursts out.
  • i.e. when a man has someone to protect, he can bring out more strength than otherwise.