59 Japanese Slang Phrases To Make You Sound Native
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You’ve realized customary Japanese from formal studying assets, however have you ever ever wished to strive stretching your language muscle groups with some native-friendly banter? Japanese slang phrases are good for mixing the vocabulary and grammar guidelines you’ve realized with real-life informal dialog. Though there’s a time and a spot for all the things, the chances are that if you happen to connect Japanese honorifics like chan (～ちゃん) or kun (～くん) to your dialog accomplice’s identify, it’s protected to make use of slang!
Realizing what’s presently applicable, cool, and outdated is essential for utilizing slang successfully. This information of 59 slang phrases will set you up for not solely utilizing them your self but in addition understanding others once they communicate or write with much less formal language. Whenever you’re able to follow, Japanese language tutoring is a good way to check out your new vocabulary in a low-stakes atmosphere and obtain suggestions and suggestions for integrating slang into dialog.
How do you utilize slang in Japanese?
Utilizing slang in Japanese is much like utilizing it in your native language. Slang replaces extra customary, formal phrases (and even entire phrases and expressions) so as to add a way of familiarity and modernity to a dialog. It may possibly additionally merely change the pronunciation of a phrase to make it sooner to say or simply for enjoyable (like “gonna” as an alternative of “going to” or “yas” as an alternative of “sure”).
In Japanese, slang typically makes liberal use of the Japanese alphabets as an alternative of kanji. This leaves no query as to how phrases are pronounced. Most slang may be written with both hiragana or katakana, however utilizing katakana can add a “cool” issue because of its main use as an alphabet for international phrases.
It’s additionally essential to grasp the that means of the phrase you’re utilizing earlier than you utilize it! Misusing slang may be humorous, however you may additionally stumble into an embarrassing fake pas.
Osu and different Japanese slang expressions
Some methods to say “hello” in Japanese can be utilized as slang, however different greetings and expressions additionally fall into the identical class. Utilizing phrases like these as an alternative of their formal, spelled-out variations could make conversations with pals much less stiff. They’re additionally good for textual content conversations!
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| オス | osu | Hey!/’Sup? (masculine) |
| ヤッホー | yahhо̄ | Hello! (female) |
| わりーね | warī ne | My dangerous (derived from warui ne) |
| あーね | ā ne | I see (derived from ā sō da ne) |
| ありゃーと | aryāto | Thanks (derived from arigatō) |
| ～っす | ~ssu | Shortened model of the “to be” verb desu (much like altering “is” to “s” as in “Don’t fear, ‘s’okay.”) |
Otaku and different Japanese slang to explain folks
As a substitute of utilizing adjectives to explain an individual, a particular phrase can be utilized to explain all of them by itself. Are you obsessive about a sizzling man in that band you want? You could be an otaku for that ikemen!
Many of those Japanese slang phrases are portmanteaus, that means they mix two phrases to make one new one. For instance, your bff (zuttomo, ずっ友) is your at all times (zutto, ずっと) good friend (tomo, 友).
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| オタク | otaku | an individual obsessive about popular culture media like video video games, comics, and many others. |
| 限界オタク | genkai otaku | an otaku obsessive about their object of curiosity to a regarding diploma (can be utilized positively or negatively) |
| イケメン | ikemen | good-looking (adjective); sizzling man (noun) |
| バカ・アホ | baka/aho | fool; silly |
| いつメン | itsumen | shut good friend group; squad |
| ずっ友 | zuttomo | bff |
| あたおか | ataoka | nuts; loopy (as in “That man’s insane!”) |
| ニコイチ | nikoichi | two people who find themselves at all times collectively |
| 外人 | gaijin | foreigner (normally impartial, can be utilized negatively based mostly on context) |
Donmai and different slang phrases for emotions and experiences
Slang lets us specific heightened emotions via stronger phrases and amplifiers. The phrase totemo (とても) is a normal Japanese adverb for “very,” however there are a number of slang variations that infuse extra emotion into the sentiment. Check out these instance sentences to see how maji can add emphasis by turning into slang for bruh in Japanese or exaggerating a phrase.
- Kekkon shita no?! Maji?!（結婚したの？！マジ？！）= You bought married?! Bruh!!
- Maji de saikō!（マジで最高！）= That’s superior, for actual!
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| どんまい | donmai | by no means thoughts; don’t fear |
| 半端ない | hanpa nai | That’s unbelievable/superior/superb! |
| ビミョー・微妙 | bimyō | meh; I dunno… |
| バイブス | baibusu | vibes |
| 好ハオ | hao | like/adore it (makes use of the Chinese language kanji for “like” with the identical pronunciation) |
| ドタキャン | dotakyan | canceling on the final minute |
| ケチ | kechi | cheapskate (noun); stingy (adjective) |
| マジ・マジで | maji/maji de | Severely? For actual? (will also be used as an adverb to say one thing is “significantly [adjective]”) |
| ガチ・ガチで | gachi/gachi de | significantly; approach (as in “approach cool!”) |
| 超～ | chō~ | very; tremendous (as in “superb!) |
| めっちゃ～ | meccha~ | so; tremendous (as in “so cute!”) |
Dekai and different adjectives used as slang
Adjectives in Japanese slang are distinctive in that their pronunciation can change, including a stronger nuance. In some circumstances, the ultimate i (い) may be dropped solely to create a shocked pause on the finish of the phrase. It may possibly additionally flip into an e sound, which leans towards a masculine nuance.
- Yaba! Sugoi oishii, kore!（やばっ！すごい美味しい、これ！）= Omg! This tastes superb!
- Dekē nā, koko wa.（でけぇなぁ、ここは。）= This place is freaking enormous.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| でかい | dekai | large; enormous |
| ちっちゃい | chicchai | small; tiny |
| おもろい | omoroi | humorous; attention-grabbing |
| むずい | muzui | troublesome |
| ハズい | hazui | embarrassing |
| きもい | kimoi | gross; creepy |
| エモい | emoi | emotional; speechless; “all of the feels” |
| うまい | umai | scrumptious; superb |
| ウザい | uzai | annoying |
| ダサい | dasai | uncool; cringe |
| メタい | metai | meta |
| ズルい | zurui | unfair |
| ヤバい | yabai | loopy; omg; horrible; superb (any emotion that may elicit “omg!” or “No approach!”) |
Guguru and different slang verbs
Like slang adjectives, Japanese slang verbs may be additional modified via pronunciation. There’s already an off-the-cuff Japanese verb conjugation, however slang can take it even additional, as proven in these examples:
- Wakaranai (分からない。） = Wakannai（分かんない。）= I dunno.
- Ii ja nai.（いいじゃない。）= Ii jan.（いいじゃん。）= Sounds good to me.
Many of those verbs use Japanese loanwords from English mixed with Japanese verb endings to create a brand new phrase. For instance, bazuru (バズる) means “to go viral,” nevertheless it’s based mostly on the phrase “buzz.”
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| ググる | guguru | to google |
| ディスる | disuru | to diss |
| バズる | bazuru | to go viral |
| サボる | saboru | to slack off; to skip (an exercise) |
| パクる | pakuru | to steal; to plagiarize |
| ミスる | misuru | to make a mistake |
| トラブる | toraburu | to have an issue |
| ハマる | hamaru | to be addicted; to be obsessive about |
| チルする | chiru suru | to relax out |
| バビる | babiru | to be extraordinarily startled |
| ポチる | pochiru | to purchase one thing on-line |
| モテる | moteru | to be widespread; to be engaging |
| ウケる | ukeru | to be hilarious |
| ムカつく | mukatsuku | to be irritating |
Warota and different examples of Japanese web slang
Identical to in different languages, Japanese web slang is ever altering with new phrases and phrases coming into the lexicon on a weekly foundation. Platforms like insuta (インスタ, Instagram) and tikkutokku (ティックトック, TikTok) are frequent locations for the most recent slang to pop up. Attempt following a number of individuals who submit in Japanese on social media to remain present!
Identical to how utilizing phrases like “sus,” “on fleek,” or “allow them to cook dinner” can level to your age or familiarity with web tradition, utilizing present or outdated web slang in Japanese may be counterproductive in your endeavor to be cool. Proceed with warning however have enjoyable searching for phrases like these on social media.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| 笑 | wara | lol (may be repeated a number of occasions for emphasis, as in “lololol”) |
| ワロタ | warota | lol/lmao/rofl (based mostly on the identical phrase because the kanji used for “lol”) |
| ぴえん | pien | used as a response for “unhappy,” particularly related to the “pleading face” emoji (🥺) |
| ちょえ | choe | dangle on a sec; wait a minute (brief for chotto matte) |
| かわちぃ | kawachii | cute (popularized by influencers on social media) |
| それな | sore na | ikr or an identical expression of fervent settlement |
Often requested questions on Japanese slang phrases
It’s pure to be interested in Japanese slang and the right way to use it. Slang phrases are enjoyable, and weaving them into conversations may help you sound extra native. Discovering methods to immerse your self in Japanese may also assist you really feel extra assured utilizing them.
When can I exploit slang in Japanese?
Attempt to restrict Japanese slang to informal conversations, corresponding to amongst family and friends. If it might be applicable to make use of slang in an English dialog, it’s in all probability applicable in a Japanese dialog, too.
What does “yabai” imply in Japanese?
Yabai (ヤバい) is used to precise shock, pleasure, concern, dismay, and all the things in between. Shut English equivalents can be “No approach!” or “omg!” due to the number of conditions they match into.
Why do Japanese folks say “wwwww” on the web?
The letter w in Japanese writing on-line means “lol,” so repeated w’s in writing means “lololol.” This comes from the primary sound of warau (笑う), which implies “to snigger.” You may additionally see the kanji character for “grass” (草) as a substitute as a result of a number of w’s can seem like grass sprouting from the bottom.
