Trendy Japanese Expressions for Your Year-End Trip
Are you ready for a year-end trip to Japan? Learn some trendy and practical Japanese vocabulary to help you make more friends during your visit! Berlitz has compiled a list of popular and internet slang terms in Japan for 2023. This will enable you to get closer to Japanese culture and better understand the language used by the younger generation. Join us in exploring the trending expressions among Japanese youth and enhancing your travel experience!
- The term 'かわいい' (kawaii) doesn't just mean cute!
(1.) Many Japanese girls say 'かわいい' (kawaii) when taking photos before meals, indicating that something looks not only cute but also appetizing.
(2.) 'かわいい' (kawaii) represents a combination of 'ugly' and 'cute,' often used to describe small animals that are short and charmingly ugly. In Japanese, there's even a word specifically expressing 'ugly but cute' called 'ブサカワ' (busakawa), combining '不細工' (busaiku) and 'かわいい' (kawaii). 「その子犬はブサカワだけど、めちゃくちゃ可愛い！」(Sono koinu wa busakawa dakedo, mechakucha kawaii!) translates to "That puppy is a bit ugly but incredibly cute!"
(3.) You often hear 'かわいい' (kawaii) when shopping, with friends using it to compliment a product that suits you well. 「このドレス、君にぴったりだね！かわいい！」(Kono doresu, kimi ni pittari da ne! Kawaii!) means "This dress suits you perfectly! It's so cute!"
(4.) 'かわいい' (kawaii) can also function as a sentence-ending particle, similar to 'やばい' (yabai).- 「今日のテスト、かわいい難しかったなあ。」(Kyō no tesuto, kawaii muzukashikatta naa.) translates to "Today's test was kinda difficult."
- 'やばい' (yabai) originally had a negative meaning of 'bad' during the Edo period when thieves would exclaim 'やばい' (yabai) when they were about to be caught by the police, indicating a troublesome situation. Over time, the usage of 'やばい' (yabai) has evolved to encompass various meanings such as 'exaggerated,' 'weird,' 'delicious,' 'amazing,' and more.
Examples:
(1.) Exaggerated usage:
- あの映画、やばかった！ (Ano eiga, yabakatta!) (That movie was so over-the-top!)
(2.) Weird usage:
- この写真、見て。なんかやばくない？ (Kono shashin, mite. Nanka yabakunai?) (Look at this photo. Doesn't it seem weird?)
(3.) Delicious usage:
- この寿司、やばいくらい美味しい！ (Kono sushi, yabai kurai oishii!) (This sushi is unbelievably delicious!)
(4.) Amazing usage:
- 彼のスケート技術、本当にやばいなあ！ (Kare no sukēto gijutsu, hontōni yabai naa!) (His skating skills are truly amazing!)
- The term 'ディスる (disuru)' is a popular expression that combines English and Japanese. It breaks down the English term 'disrespect' into 'dis' and incorporates the meaning of the Japanese 'suru.' Therefore, 'Disuru' implies looking down on or insulting others."
- エモい (emoi) carries the emotional meaning in English, similar to the popular Chinese term 'emo.' It is often used to describe strong emotions, typically of a more negative nature.
- RYO (りょ), derived from the original term '了解' (りょうかい, Ryoukai), commonly used in messaging and casual conversations with friends. Typing is relatively simple and easy!
- OKO (おこ), derived from the word '怒る' (Okoru) meaning 'to get angry,' has become a shorthand expression for anger and a representative emoticon of anger! Isn't it cute?