Japanese Slang, Words, and Phrases

[Señor Sunday Friday]

A

ABAYO: Informal term for "good bye", this is not considered a polite way to say goodbye.


ABUNE: Slang, this is an exclamation take from "abunai". It is used as in, "That was close!!!" (Thanks to Aussie boy)


ACHI ITTE: Impolite phrase meaning "go over there!" which of course means that you should "go away!"

ACHI KAERE: Impolite phrase meaning "go back over there, far away". This is a very direct way of saying "go away!".

AHO: Impolite term meaning "dumb ass".


AHONDARA: Slang, insult, related to "aho" but much stronger.


AH SO: Informal phrase which means "Oh, I see...", but I would avoid using this phrase as a "gaijin" because it may have been over-used by American movie studios as a stereo-typical Japanese thing to say. I think that I have read somewhere that it may even be offensive to some Japanese people.

AITSU: Impolite term meaning "that thing over there".

AKUMABITO: Informal term for "demon" or "spirit". The first "A" is not clearly pronounced. "Akuma" means devil or demon, and "bito" refers to a person (HITO). The "H" in HITO changes to "B" after certain vowels.

AMAI: Informal term meaning "gullible" or "someone who is a real sap".

ANO: Informal word which can mean "that thing over there", but the slang meaning is more commonly "Uhhh..." or "Well..." and is used a lot in colloquial speech at the start of a sentence or between sentences just like we use "Uhhh.." to slow down the conversation so we can think.

APO: Informal term referring to "an appointment for a date".


ARE!: used for exclamation such as : "Oh my!" "WTF?" etc.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

B

BAITO: Informal slang for someone who is working part-time.

BAKA: Informal word meaning "stupid". This has to be the most commonly used insult in Japan. Being called stupid is quite serious to the Japanese.


BECHA BECHA: Slang used to describe a "chatterbox" or a really noisey converation (see PECHA KUCHA)


BETSU NI: Informal phrase meaning "nothing" or "nothing really". Normally used in response to a question.

BIJIN: Informal term meaning "beautiful woman" but actually is closer to "hot chick!"

BISHONEN: Informal term for "hottie" or "cute guy"

BOKE: Impolite term meaning "knuckle head"


BONKURA: Slang, insult, referring to your intelligence such as, "dimwit" or "dumbass"


BOROI: Slang, refers to something that is "old" or "worn out". Also see BORO BORO Also, Slang for "making easy money" or "making money dishonestly"


BORO BORO: Informal, refers to something that is "old" or "worn out". Also see BOROI.


BOZU: Informal term for "kid" and is kind of like saying "Hey squirt!".


BURU HAIRU: An expression used when things aren't going right


BURU SERA: You may need to know this, if you are a perv.......This is a business which sells uniforms (usually for school girls )


BUSAIKU: Slang, insult, refers to someone's appearance such as, "pretty damn UGLY!!!"

[Señor Sunday Friday]

C

CHARA CHARA: Slang for something that is too flashy in terms of style, or refers to person who blatantly flirts.

CHAU CHAU: Informal way of saying CHIGAIMASU which means "wrong" or "it's something different (from what you think)". This phrase comes from the Osaka dialect. Can be said once or twice depending on the tone or emphasis.

CHE: Exclamation used to express disgust. It's kinda like saying "shiiit!"


CHINKE: Slang, refers to something "cheap" and of "poor quality".


CHOBERIBA: Informal term which means "extremely bad". CHO means "extremely", and the BERIBA actually comes from and sounds like "very bad".

CHOBERIGU: Informal term which means "extremely good". CHO means "extremely", and the BERIGU actually comes from and sounds like "very good". This may now be heard as CHOBEGU. (Thanks to Ahondara)

CHODAI: Informal term that is very close to KURE YO! and means "Please do this for me".


CHOTTO II ?: This is how you ask, "Can I ask you something quick?" this is a friendly way, and is best used with people you know already.


CHOTTO MATTE: Informalphrase which means "wait a minute" or "excuse me a bit" and can vary according to the tone you use all the way up to "wait a damn minute!".


CHOUSHI HA DOU DESU KA?: This is how you say : " How are you (feeling) ? "

[Señor Sunday Friday]

D

DABO: Slang, insult referring to your intelligence, like "complete idiot"


DAI: Colloquial for DESU KA example: Nan dai? = Nan desu ka?

DAME: Informal term with many meanings. I can mean "no" or "it's bad" or "it's not possible" or "you can't do that" etc. etc. It is word that signals a "no" answer.

DASAI: Exclamation used to express disgust about something completely stupid or lame.


DE: Informal term that can have many meanings, but the slang usage is at the beginning of a sentence. When a person starts a sentence with DE, it is more of an interjection, and it's meaning is more like "So....(anyway)..."


DATTARA: Informal phrase which means "if that is so..." and can be used as in "so?"


DO- : Colloquial prefix, used to add emphasis to words such as "total" or "absolute" such as "Do-Aho!"


DO ITTA: Informal phrase which means "move out of the way" but is basically a way of saying "move it!"


DOUKA: This is used at the beginning of a request. It is close in translation to "Would you please....." EX: Douka...shashin o misete kudasai yo!


DO KASHITEIRU: Informal phrase which means "Are you o.k.? (you seem kinda out of it)"


DOKE: Informal term used to say "get out of the way!". It is a slang version of the word DOKERU.

-DONO: Suffix added to names like "-san" to make it more polite, but "-dono" is more like "Mr." In TENCHI MUYO, Washu addresses Tenchi as "Tenchi Dono" very often and she is just being extra respectul to Tenchi by calling him "Mr. Tenchi".

DOSE: Informal word used to express "Anyway......." in a somewhat negative way, or used in a sentence to express doubt like when you user the word "afterall". EXAMPLE: Afterall (dose).....it can't be true you know.

DORE DORE: Informal phrase which loosely translates to, "Hello, what do we have here?" or "What's this?"


DORO DORO: Informal term for something that is gooey or muddy, or something that is confusing. Consider the abstract concept of "muddiness". Also is used to imply that someone is not getting along with someone else.

DOSHITA: Informal phrase which can mean "what's wrong?" or "what?" or is used to get a response, like when you say "well...?"

DOSHITA NO: Informal phrase which can mean "what's wrong?" or "what happened?" and is mostly used to express concern. The NO at the end doesn't really change the meaning much, and is used in this case for emphasis.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

E

ETO: Interjection that is similar to "uhhh.." or "errr..." and can imply a phrase such as, "well, actually...."

[Señor Sunday Friday]

F

FAITO !!!: Loan word which refers to a fighting spirit, kinda like GAMBATTE and is said when you want to express that you must keep on going and hang in there.


FUKERU: To play hooky from school, or something. This word is very similar to saboru

[Señor Sunday Friday]

G

GAKI: Informal term meaning "brat" or "young punk"


GAMAN SHIRO: This is a simple way of saying , "..Just deal with it"


GARUTACHI: Informal term which roughly means "partners in crime" and refers to real hoodlums.

GE: Exclamation meaning "yuck!" or "gross!"


GOCHA GOCHA SURU: this means "to be confused"


GO KURO: Informal phrase which means "good work" or "thanks for doing something that inconveniences you" and is short for the more polite GO KUROSAMA DESHITA.


GUZU: Somebody who dawdles, wastes times, or goofs off.


GUZU GUZU: Informal phrase which refers to something or someone that is lazy, or an action which happens slowly and lazily.


GYOGI GA WARUI: Informal phrase which simply means "bad manners"

[Señor Sunday Friday]

H

HAI: OK, this DOES NOT MEAN "yes", it means "I am paying attention, and I understand what you are saying"


HAMATTA: Expresses that something was funny.

HANASHI ARU sounds like HAH NAH SHEE AH RU: Informal phrase which means "I need to speak to you" although literally it means "a conversation exists".

HARA HETA sounds like HAH REH TAH: Informal phrase which means "To be hungry" and literally translates as "My/your belly is in a bad condition".

HASSHIN sounds like HA SHEEN: Exclamation meaning "launch!".

HAZUI sounds like HAH ZEE: Informal term for "embarrassing" and is short for HAZUKASHII.


HE?: This is how you say, "Huh?" or "WTF?"


HETCHI: This refers to anything or anyone that is perverted


HEKI: informal expression that loosely translates as "No problem!" "It's ok!" "Forget about it!"
ex: Daijobu desu ka? Heki da yo! (Is it a problem? No problem, it's ok!!)


HIDOI sounds like HEE DEH: Informal term meaning "terrible" or "horrible" or "grotesque"

HORA sounds like HO RAH: Informal term which kinda means "hey!" or "see?!" when you want to get somebody's attention. Related to KORA

[Señor Sunday Friday]

I

ICHIO sounds like ITCHY OH: Informal term meaning "anyway...." or "well...." and can replace a direct answer with the meaning "Uhhh...kinda sorta...".

II DARO sounds like EE DAH ROH: Informal phrase meaning "it's a deal" or "it's o.k. with me" or "it's probably o.k.".


II JA NAI BETSU NI: This expression is used to say "It's o.k.! I don't mind!" but if you use it when someone is being nosey, then it means, "It's none of your business anyhow!!!"


II KAMO SHIRENAI sounds like EE KAH MO SHEE NIGH: Colloquial phrase that is used to say that something is nice, good, or cool. II KAMO is used by itself alot to simply say something is cool. "Shirenai" is literally translated as "I dunno..." so it follows the polite way of expressing your thoughts by ending the phrase with an expression of doubt. (Thanks to Greg C. Sharp for this valuable bit of info!)

IJO NASHI sounds like EE JOE NIGH SHH:Informal phrase meaning "functioning normally". This is used a lot in futuristic anime in regards to equipment working normally. Literally means "without abnormallity" and replaces the English version "all systems normal".


IKEMEN:Translates into something like "very handsome man" or "hot guy"


IKENAI sounds like EE KEH NIGH:Informal term meaning "something's wrong" or "it's no good" or "you can't do that" or "it wont work". It is very close to the word DAME and is short for IKEMASEN.


IKINARI:This word means "suddenly" or "without notice" and is used to say that something was unexpected and usually not welcome. For instance, if somebody visits you without an invitation, that is the kind of feeling it expresses.


II KAGEN NI SHINASAI:loosely translates as "don't be like that!" or "don't behave like that!" and is usually used to scold kids.


II ZO sounds like EEE ZO:Informal phrase meaning "ready!" or "let's go for it!"


II YO:This means, "It's OK, don't worry about it !"


IKU ZE sounds like EE KU ZEH: Informal phrase meaning "let's go!"

IYA sounds like EE YAH: Exclamation meaning "no way!" or something like "that's terrible!"

[Señor Sunday Friday]

J

JA sounds like JAH: Informal exclamation which can mean "well..." or "see ya!" or "umm..." or can be used to stall for time when you don't want to answer a difficult question. It is a very handy word and has many more meanings. It is also a very short way of saying "bye!"


JIGEN sounds like GEE GHEN: Standard word for "dimension". It is commonly heard in anime when referring to
an interdimensional tunnel which is called "JIGEN NO TUNERU"


JOUZU DESU NE !: OK, LISTEN CAREFULLY This is how you say, "My, you are pretty good at (English or Japanese)".......but if Japanese people say this to you, DONT LET IT GO TO YOUR HEAD OK? They are just being polite.


JUNBI O.K. DESU: This is a very modern way of saying, "I'm ready!" And it really does use O.K. as in English.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

K

KAI sounds like KIGH. Colloquial for DESU KA example: Nan kai? = Nan desu ka?


KAN KAN sounds like KAHN KAHN: Slang which means "pissed off" or "going ballistic" or "enraged"


KEITA sounds like KAY TAH: Informal term for "cell phone"


KI GA TSUITA: Informal phrase which translates as "to be awake" or "to be conscious" and also means "I just noticed something"


KIMOCHI WARUI sounds like KEE MO CHEE WAH RU EE: Informal phrase which means "feel sick" but is more often used to say "yuck!" or "gross!". I think that if you say "Kimochi GA warui" then it refers to how sick you feel.

KIMOI sounds like KEE MOY: Informal term for " feel sick" or "makes me feel sick", it is short for KIMOCHI WARUI.

KI NI SHINAI sounds like KEY KNEE SHEEN EYE: Informal phrase meaning "don't worry" or "no problem". "Ki ni suru" means, "To worry".

KIDOU sounds like KEY DOH: Informal term which means "start to function" or "be functional".

KISAMA sounds like KEY SAH MAH: Impolite term for "you" and will probably get you into a fight if you use it (in Japan). Literally means "your honorable self".

KISHOI sounds like KEY SHEH: Informal term for "gross" or "nasty".

KOCHI KOCHI sounds like KO CHEE KO CHEE: Slang meaning "this way!" or "over here!". It is short for KOCHIRA which is a polite way of saying "this way".

KOITSU sounds like KOYT-SUU: Informal term meaning "this thing" or "this person" and can be considered rude.


KON: This is the friendly and cool way to say "Konnichiwa " in a chatroom.


KON'ARO sounds like CON ARROW: Impolite term for "you bastard!". It is short for "kono yaro"


KONCHA : Short for Konnichiwa and is very colloquial.


KONJYOYAKI: Pressing a lit cigarette onto your own arm to prove you've got "konjyo" (guts) Thanks to Boozemonkey for this one.


KONO YARO sounds like KO NO YAH ROH: Impolite phrase meaning "you/that bastard!" even though "kono" refers to "this". ( see "YARO" )

KORA sounds like KO RAH: Informal term meaning "hey!" or close to "listen here!" and is used to get someone's attention in a rough tone.


KOSO KOSO sounds like KO SO KO SO: Onomotopoeia which describes a "sneaky" action or behavior.


KURE YO sounds like KUU REH YOH: Informal phrase meaning "please do this for me" and is literally closer to "wont'cha do this for me?" and can also be used as in "Gimmie!"

KORYA sounds like KO REE AH: Colloquial for KORE WA meaning "this"

KUSO sounds like KUU SO: Exclamation that means "shit!" and is used just like anywhere in the world.


KUSOTARE sounds like KUU SO TAH REH: Slang term which is easily translated to "shithead"

[Señor Sunday Friday]

M

MAA sounds like MAH: Colloquial interjection that closely translates as "well..." or "anyway..." and is included very often (I mean very often with some people) with no intended meaning.


MAA MO NAKU (NAI) sounds like MAH MOW NAH KOO: Colloquial usage which translates as "a short time" and more literally is "not even for a short amount of time". You can use it to describe that something happened a short while ago, or that something will happen shortly, or that something has been going on for only a short amount of time.


MAGURO: Slang, refers to a woman who is rather less than enthusiastic during sex. Like a "dead fish".


MAHO SHOJO sounds like MAH HO SHOW JOE: Informal term from anime which refers to a female character that has magical powers.

MAJI sounds like MAH GEE: Informal phrase that means "really?" or "are you serious?"

MAMA sounds like MAH MAH: Informal phrase meaning "calm down" or "there there". It is also used to refer to something that is "same as usual"

MANIAKU sounds like MAH NEE AKKU: Slang word referring to someone who is a know-it-all about a subject. It may be that this is a more positive term like an "otaku" is a know-it-all about anime. (Thanks to Balaji from India for this suggestion!)


MATA NE!: This is how you say, "See you later !"


MAZUI sounds like MAH ZEE: Informal term that refers to something that tastes terrible or something that sucks.

MECHA: Slang word added for emphasis, kinda like "Ultra-...." so you could say "Mecha muzukashi desu ne!" for "It's super difficult huh?!"

MECHA@kucha: means "very" as in "pretty f**king good!"


MENDOI: Informal term for "troublesome". It is short for MENDO KUSAI which literally means "stinks of trouble".


MISE MONO JA NAI YO!: Loosely means "what are you looking at buddy!?"


MUKATSUKU: Informal term for "being irritated" or "pissed off"

MUKO: Impolite term that literally means "opposite side" but it is used to refer to someone else who is causing you to be angry and you are totally against of. Also refers to something that you feel is not correct or unreasonable, Very close to "damn you!"


MURI SHINAI DE: loosely translates as "take it easy!" or "don't kill yourself!"


MUYO sounds like MUU YOH: Informal term that means "unnecessary." It is also used to say "(there is) no need" for something.

MUZUI sounds like MU ZEEH: Informal term for "difficult" and is short for MUZUKASHII

[Señor Sunday Friday]

N

NAMERU JA NAI sounds like NAH MEH RUU JAH NYE: Informalphrase which translates as "don't mess with me!" or "don't underestimate me!". It is usually said in an aggressive tone of voice.

NAME'N JA NE sounds like NAMEN JAH NEH: Informal phrase which is derived from NAMERU JA NAI ("don't mess with me")


NANCHATTE sounds like NAN CHA TEH: Slang term that is popular with young people, it is used in the same
way that "...just kidding!" is. It basically lets you know that somebody is just fooling around jokingly, or being ironic about what they are talking about.


NANDAKKE: This expression is used when someone mentions something that you might have been told before but you forgot. Or, it is used to express " Um yeah, what about that (thing you're talking about)?"


NAN DE sounds like NAN DEH: Colloquial term meaning "why?"


NANKA SA: slangy term, can be used loosely as in "....oh yeah...by the way.."


...NA NO DA sounds like NAH NO DAH: Colloquial quirk, and I'll go out on a ledge and say that it equals the words NO DESU and does not change the meaning of the sentence otherwise.

NANPA sounds like NAN PAH: Slang term meaning "pick up line" or "to try and pick someone up".

NANTE KOTO sounds like NAN TEH KO TO: Interjection which loosely translates to "Oh my gosh!" and more literally means "what an experience!"

NANTO KA sounds like NAN TOH KAH: Informal phrase that means, "Somehow..."
It is usually use in the phrase, "Nanto ka na....." which is usually used when trying to say," I guess I'll figure it out somehow...." or "I guess I'm not sure how it will work out".


NARUHODO: When you are speaking or chatting with a Japanese person, say this often so they know you are still listening.


NE sounds like NEH: Informal interjection with many uses. It can mean "right?" or "isn't it" or "hey!"

-NECHAN sounds like NEH CHAH NN: Informal suffix added to girl's names to add respect but it doesn't add formality. It refers to an older sister but the person doesn't have to actually be related. This is used alot in Tenchi Muyo by Sasami.

-NICHAN sounds like KNEE CHAH NN: Informal suffix added to boy's names to add respect but it doesn't add formality. It refers to an older brother but the person doesn't have to actually be related. This is used alot inTenchi Muyo by Sasami.

NYAKO sounds like NEE AH KO: Informal term for "kitty cat"


NYUUYOKU: This means "take a bath" and is used as a pun because it sounds like the Japanese word for New York. Get it?

[Señor Sunday Friday]

O

OBOETE OKE sounds like OH BOY TOH KEH: Colloquial phrase which roughly translates as "Remember this!" (Thanks to Greg C. Sharp for this definition). For further clarification, I will add that "OKE" comes from "OKU" which means "to put" or "to place" or "to keep", in other words, OBOETE OKE means that you should
take whatever information is being given to you and you better keep it in your thoughts.


OFKAI sounds like AH HH KIGH: Informalinternet term which refers to meeting an internet acquaintance in person, face to face. (replace the "f" sound with an "h" sound)

OHA sounds like OH HAH: Exclamatory phrase for "good morning". Very short for OHAYO GOZAIMASU.


OHISA: This is the cool and friendly way to say, "Long time no see" and it is short for "O-hisashiburi desu ne"


OI sounds like OY: Informal term meaning "hey!". Used to get somebody's attention.



OITOMA: very common expressed used to say " I gotta go now!!!"


OMAE sounds like OH MAH YEH: Informal term for "you". This is not a term you use to speak to people you respect.

OMAKE sounds like OH MAH KEH: Slang for "bonus" but is also an informal term for "defeat" or "loss".

OMATA sounds like OH MAH TAH: Informal phrase which means "sorry to keep you waiting" and is short for the more polite OMATASE SHIMASHITA.


OMOROI: Slang, short for omoshiroi


ONIGIRI I think it sounds like OH NEE GEE LEE: Standard word which means "wrapped" but refers to a very common rice treat. Just in case you didn't know, this is what you call the little rice cakes that you see kids eating in most anime. They look like little white turnovers and are made of rice and maybe a little stuffing inside, usually pickled plum. Sometimes they have a little piece of seaweed on the outside. This may be called "MUSUBI" or "OMUSUBI" which means "tied up". By the way, in some Pokemon episodes, onigiri is referred to as "donuts" which they obviously are not.


ONORE sounds like OH NO REH: Impolite term referring to "one's self" but is being sarcastic in a way that makes the listener angry. It's like "KISAMA" means "your honorable self" but is actually making a snide remark.

O SAKI NI sounds like OH SAH KEY KNEE: Informal phrase used to say "excuse me for going ahead of you". It is a short way to say "Saki ni, shitsurei shimasu" which means, "I am being rude for going ahead/before you".

OSSU sounds like OSSS: Slang term meaning "good morning". It is the very first and last part of "ohayo gozaimasu".

[Señor Sunday Friday]

P

PAKURU: Slang meaning to steal something, or to steal someone's idea (related to PAKURI)


PECHA KUCHA: This is the most commonly used term for someone who talks alot, a real "chatterbox"


PIN PON sounds like PEEN PON: Onomatopoeia which means "ding!" as in "ding! you're right!"

PURA MODERU sounds like PRUH MODURUH: Informal term for "plastic model". the PURA- is from PURASUCHIKKU which means "plastic".

PURI PURI: This is used to describe somebody's mood that seems to be grouchy or moody.