Japan

Japanese Slang for Everyday Things

11 Japanese slang terms for everyday things, each with its meaning, how it is pronounced and an example of it in use.

Informal names for ordinary things and ordinary activities — the domestic layer of slang that rarely makes phrasebooks but comes up constantly.

verb, adjective · Informal · BA-eh-ru

To photograph well; to look good on a feed. Of food, a café, an outfit or a view chosen partly because it will.

verb · Colloquial · BA-zoo-ru

To go viral. Of a post, a video or a shop that suddenly has a queue round the block because of one.

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adjective · Informal · DA-roo-i

Sluggish, heavy-limbed, drained — the physical feeling of a fever coming on or of four hours' sleep.

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noun, verb · Colloquial · doh-ta-KYAN

A last-minute cancellation — pulling out on the day, or an hour before. Used as a noun and as a verb: ドタキャンされた, 'they bailed on me'.

adverb · Informal · GAT-tsu-ree

Properly; heartily; a serious amount. Of food above all — ガッツリ系 is the whole genre of large, meaty, unapologetic dishes.

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verb · Colloquial · GOO-goo-ru

To google. Fully naturalised: it conjugates like any Japanese verb — ググった, ググれば, ググっとく.

adjective · Informal · men-DOI

Too much hassle; can't be bothered. Applied to tasks, procedures and, unkindly, to people who require managing.

noun · Informal · NOO-ma

A hobby, fandom or rabbit hole you have sunk into and cannot climb out of. 沼にハマる is to fall in; 沼落ち is the moment it happens.

noun · Informal · OH-shee

Your favourite — the member of a group, the character or the performer you personally back and promote.

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verb · Informal · pa-KOO-ru

To nick — to rip off someone's idea, design or joke and pass it off as your own.

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verb · Informal · sa-BO-ru

To skive; to skip a class or a shift, or to coast through work you are supposed to be doing.