What is Japanese Slang?
Japanese slang (俗語 zokugo or スラング surangu) includes informal words and expressions used in casual conversation, especially among young people. Slang changes quickly and varies by age group, region, and subculture.
Types of Japanese slang:
- Youth slang (若者言葉 wakamono kotoba)
- Internet slang (ネットスラング netto surangu)
- Abbreviated forms (略語 ryakugo)
- Made-up expressions
- Trend-based phrases
Warning: Slang can sound rude or inappropriate in formal settings. Use only with close friends of similar age.
Essential Everyday Slang
やばい (yabai) - Most Versatile Slang
Originally meant "dangerous" but now means almost anything based on context.
Positive uses:
このラーメン、やばい！
Kono ra-men, yabai!
"This ramen is amazing!"
やばい、かわいい！
Yabai, kawaii!
"Oh my god, that's so cute!"
Negative uses:
やばい、財布忘れた！
Yabai, saifu wasureta!
"Oh no, I forgot my wallet!"
テスト、やばい。
Tesuto, yabai.
"The test is terrible/I'm screwed."
Excitement:
やばっ！マジで！？
Yaba! Maji de!?
"No way! Seriously!?"
マジ (maji) - Seriously/Really
Used for emphasis or to ask if something is true.
マジ？
Maji?
"Seriously?" / "Really?"
マジでやばい
Maji de yabai
"Seriously terrible/amazing"
マジ最高！
Maji saikou!
"Seriously the best!"
マジか！
Maji ka!
"Are you serious!?"
ウケる (ukeru) - Funny/Hilarious
Literally "to receive" but used for "that's funny."
超ウケる！
Chou ukeru!
"That's hilarious!"
ウケたー
Uketa-
"That was funny"
マジウケる
Maji ukeru
"That's seriously funny"
キモい (kimoi) - Gross/Creepy
Contraction of 気持ち悪い (kimochi warui).
キモい虫！
Kimoi mushi!
"Gross bug!"
あいつキモい
Aitsu kimoi
"That guy's creepy"
ダサい (dasai) - Uncool/Lame
その服ダサい
Sono fuku dasai
"Those clothes are lame"
ダサっ
Dasa
"That's lame"
エグい (egui) - Extreme/Intense
Can be positive or negative depending on context.
エグいくらい辛い
Egui kurai karai
"Insanely spicy"
エグい量
Egui ryou
"Insane amount"
Positive Slang Expressions
神 (kami) - God/Amazing
Used to praise something as godlike.
この曲、神！
Kono kyoku, kami!
"This song is godly!"
神対応
Kami taiou
"Godly customer service"
神回
Kami-kai
"God-tier episode"
エモい (emoi) - Emotional/Touching
From "emotional" - describes something that touches your heart.
この写真エモい
Kono shashin emoi
"This photo is so nostalgic/touching"
エモい曲
Emoi kyoku
"Emotional song"
あざす (azasu) / あざっす (azassu)
Casual "thanks" from ありがとうございます.
あざす！
Azasu!
"Thanks!"
まじあざ
Maji aza
"Thanks so much!"
り (ri) / りょ (ryo)
Super casual "OK/Roger" from 了解 (ryoukai).
り！
Ri!
"Got it!"
りょ
Ryo
"OK!"
りょーかい
Ryo-kai
"Roger that!"
ワンチャン (wan chan)
"One chance" - maybe, possibly.
ワンチャンいける
Wan chan ikeru
"Maybe I can do it / There's a chance"
ワンチャン間に合う
Wan chan maniau
"Might make it in time"
バズる (bazuru)
To go viral (from "buzz").
バズった
Bazutta
"It went viral"
バズってる
Bazutteru
"It's going viral"
Negative Slang Expressions
ウザい (uzai) - Annoying
Short for うるさい (urusai).
ウザい奴
Uzai yatsu
"Annoying person"
超ウザい
Chou uzai
"Super annoying"
ムカつく (mukatsuku) - Irritating
Feeling irritated or angry.
マジでムカつく
Maji de mukatsuku
"That really pisses me off"
ムカつく！
Mukatsuku!
"That's irritating!"
ディスる (disuru)
To diss/insult someone.
友達をディスる
Tomodachi wo disuru
"Diss a friend"
ディスられた
Disurareta
"I got dissed"
終わった (owatta) - It's Over/Screwed
Originally "finished" but used for being screwed.
もう終わった
Mou owatta
"I'm done for / It's over"
人生終わった
Jinsei owatta
"My life is over" (dramatic)
無理 (muri) - Impossible/Can't Even
Used to express something is impossible or you can't handle it.
無理無理無理！
Muri muri muri!
"No way no way no way!"
もう無理
Mou muri
"I can't anymore / I'm done"
Abbreviations & Shortened Words
Common Abbreviations
スタバ (sutaba) ← スターバックス (Starbucks)
マック (makku) ← マクドナルド (McDonald's)
コンビニ (konbini) ← コンビニエンスストア (convenience store)
リア充 (riajuu) ← リアル充実 (fulfilled in real life)
KY (ke-wai) ← 空気読めない (can't read the air/clueless)
JK (jee-kee) ← 女子高生 (high school girl)
DK (dee-kee) ← 男子高生 (high school boy)
お疲れ様 Variations
お疲れ様です → おつかれさま → おつ → おつー
Otsu
"Good work" / "Thanks for your effort"
おつかれー
Otsukare-
"Cheers" (casual)
ありがとう Variations
ありがとうございます → ありがとう → あざす → あざっす → あざ
Aza
"Thanks"
サンキュー → さんきゅ → 39 (san-kyuu)
Internet & Text Slang
Emoticon-Based
www (warau warau warau)
"lol" - laughing (like "hahaha")
草 (kusa) - "grass" (looks like www)
"lol"
大草原 (dai sougen)
"huge grassland" - LOLOLOL
Number-Based
よろしく (yoroshiku) → 4649
4 (yo), 6 (ro), 4 (shi), 9 (ku)
ありがとう (arigatou) → 39
3 (san), 9 (kyuu) → thank you
Katakana Shorthand
乙 (otsu) ← お疲れ様
"Good work"
うp (upu) ← アップロード
"Upload"
ktkr ← きたこれ (kita kore)
"It's here! / Yes!"
Modern Internet Slang
推し (oshi) - Your favorite (idol, character, etc.)
"My favorite"
沼 (numa) - "Swamp" - being obsessed with something
"I'm obsessed"
尊い (toutoi) - "Precious/sacred" - something so good it's precious
"So precious!"
〜み (～mi) - Adding "ness" to words
つらみ (tsurami) - from つらい (painful) = "painfulness"
わかりみ (wakarimi) - from 分かる (understand) = "understandability"
Trend Slang (Changes Frequently)
2020s Popular Slang
ぴえん (pien) - Sad crying emoji sound
"I'm sad"
ぱおん (paon) - More intense version of ぴえん
"I'm really sad"
それな (sore na) - "That's right" / "Exactly"
Agreement
わかりみが深い (wakarimi ga fukai)
"I deeply understand" / "So relatable"
エモすぎる (emo-sugiru)
"Too emotional/nostalgic"
ガチ (gachi) - Serious/for real
Short for ガチンコ (gachinko)
Describing People
陽キャ (you-kya) - Extrovert/popular person
From 陽気なキャラクター
陰キャ (in-kya) - Introvert/quiet person
From 陰気なキャラクター
イケメン (ikemen) - Good-looking guy
From いけてる (cool) + メン (men)
美人 (bijin) - Beautiful woman
Standard word but commonly used
可愛い (kawaii) - Cute (universal)
Gendered Slang
More Masculine
やべー (yabe-) - Instead of やばい
マジっすか (maji ssu ka) - "Seriously?"
〜っす (ssu) - Casual です ending
ウゼー (uze-) - Instead of ウザい
More Feminine
かわいー (kawai-) - Cuuute!
やだー (yada-) - Noo! / I don't want to!
マジでー？ (maji de-?) - Reallyy?
〜じゃん (jan) - Sentence ending (though used by all)
By Age Group
High School/University
チャリ (chari) - Bicycle
テンション上がる (tenshon agaru) - Get excited
ノリ (nori) - Vibe/energy/going with the flow
Young Adults (20s-30s)
映える (baeru) - Instagram-worthy
インスタ映え (insuta-bae) - "Instagrammable"
意識高い系 (ishiki takai-kei) - Try-hard/wannabe sophisticated
Slang to Avoid
Too Rough/Rude
クソ (kuso) - Shit (very vulgar)
てめー (teme-) - You (hostile)
うるせー (uruse-) - Shut up (rude)
死ね (shine) - Die (extremely rude)
Never use these unless you understand the severe social consequences.
Context Matters
The same slang can be friendly or offensive based on context:
ばか (baka) - Idiot/Stupid
Friendly: ばか！そんなことないよ！
"Silly! That's not true!"
Offensive: お前ばかだな
"You're an idiot"
Summary
Essential Slang to Know:
- やばい - Amazing/terrible (most versatile)
- マジ - Seriously/really
- ウケる - Funny
- り/りょ - OK/got it
- 無理 - Can't/impossible
- www / 草 - lol
Key Points:
- Slang changes quickly - stay updated through media
- Use only with friends of similar age
- Never use in business or formal settings
- Be careful with rough/rude slang
- Context determines if slang is appropriate
- Understand before using to avoid offense