Japanese Language Stack Exchange
Japanese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [slang]

俗語. Words, expressions, etc. considered very informal, usually used mostly by in-groups, such as young people, and easily affected by trends and fashions.

Language features (words, expressions, grammatical forms, etc.) that are considered very informal, are usually used mostly by in-groups, such as young people, and are easily affected by trends and fashions.

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How do I use うく as casual slang (as in ういた)?

Sometimes I hear Japanese people say ういた in conversation when describing something (usually someone) unpleasant. I asked my coworker once "what is this word", but I got a very poor explanation (not her fault, it just seems very much like a "sense"…
makdad
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Meaning and level of 死ねばいいのに

I have been hearing 死ねばいいのに twice last week, including once in a context where a bit of formality was required. What does it mean? Is it as violent as it sounds to me? I am not looking for a word-by-word translation. I think it has to be taken as a…
Nicolas Raoul
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Japanese slang － まんじ、マンジ、卍

Teenage kids in Japan seem to be using this word　a lot these days and it doesn't really have any real meaning? (in the sense that they are using it) まんじ！ I've seen different kinds on twitter etc where it is written in the kanji…
DanMa
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What does Puu / プー mean?

There's a slang word "poo" in Japanese that means something along the lines of "unemployed" but does it describe a specific situation? For example "NEET" which is also used in Japan, ニート, means "Not in Education, Employment, or Training". In…
gman
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Dating slang question based on a Murakami story

In the New Yorker there is an English translation of a story by Haruki Murakami, called Yesterday. I was reading the first part of it to my wife, and the young man speaking asked, "Did she let you go all the way?" referring to the extent of the…
Ralph Dratman
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Does the 擬態語 word もやもや have a slang meaning of "horny?"

In an informal conversation with a new friend, I was discussing 擬態語. She offered the word もやもや as an example, meaning "to be horny (i.e.., desiring sex)." After clarifying the meaning, I left it at that. When I looked it up I see this…
yadokari
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Is being called an オタク derogatory?

This question spawns from the comments here. I've heard that オタク could or could not be derogatory. During the times I've been in Japan and heard it used, I didn't think that it had any connotation of being an insulting term, but is this true? I'm…
Chris
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How/when is くる used to mean difficult/unpleasant?

In this video, a Japanese YouTuber says the following: 美味しいですけど、ご飯の同じ量と卵の同じ量って、ちょっと卵のほうがきますね。でも美味しいです。 It seems like きます means むずかしい here. Some other examples: (辛い食べ物を食べた後に)これは後からくる！ Apparently this implies that the effects of the spicy food…
Quppa
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What does やっちまえ mean?

As the title says: What does やっちまえ mean?
paullb
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Slang for "funny", うくれ？

A friend of mine told me that he heard うくれ or 受けれ was slang for funny (He said it was suppose to be "we accept"). I don't really know much more that that so I'm having trouble finding it online-does anyone have ideas what it could have been?
user3457
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Is " みたいな" a filler phrase?

In Mega Man Zero 4, one of my favorite games, when the boss Sol Titanion uses her Red Flame Fans attack, she shouts "Mitai na!", as you can see here at 4:30 (https://youtu.be/i7O6F3LOqM0?t=270). In the English Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works,…
Cameron Alli
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まあいいか or まあいっか or まあええか or まあえっか

I noticed some people write the following, まあいいか or まあいっか or まあええか or まあえっか Which is the correct one? What is the etymology of this expression, and for what situation? Please give me some examples.
Display Name
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"なんてこったい こりゃいったい" is this some kind of slang?

I've come across something and always wondered about it, what is the meaning of "なんてこったいこりゃいったい"? I assume (but I'm not quite sure) that it's this: to show disbelief or surprise Also, is this something actually used? (and if it is, in what…
ANP1551
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What's a "ship" called in Japan?

It's the "ship" from relationship, and generally refers to a romantic or sexual pairing/couple that an individual finds enjoyment from and/or supports. I know about the naming conventions (eg. サスサク), just not what the support is called. eg:…
user14073
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Meaning of おじゃすみなさい vs おやすみなさい/おやすみ?

I saw this on an app, and I was a bit confused. I know goodnight in Japanese is usually おやすみなさい, or the less formal form, おやすみ, but what exactly does おじゃすみなさい mean? Is it some slang way of saying goodnight, or does it have some other meaning. The…
モレランド・ウィル
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