Japanese Slang: Common Words and When (Not) to Use Them
The Japanese slang you’ll hear most often is a small set of words: やばい (crazy, amazing or terrible), マジ (seriously), めっちゃ (really, very), ウケる (that’s funny), それな (exactly) and 推し (your favourite idol or character). Use them with friends, people your age and in chats. Don’t use them with customers, teachers, older people you don’t know well or at work, where they sound careless. Slang also changes fast, so listen to how people around you speak before copying a word.
Common slang words
| Slang | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| やばい | Terrible, or amazing. Context and tone decide. | このラーメン、やばい！ This ramen is amazing! |
| マジ（で） | Seriously, really | マジで？ Seriously? |
| めっちゃ | Very, really (from western Japan, now everywhere) | めっちゃおいしい Really tasty |
| 超（ちょう） | Super, very | 超眠い So sleepy |
| ウケる | That’s funny, LOL | それウケる That’s hilarious |
| それな | Exactly, so true | A one-word reply to agree |
| ガチ | Serious, for real, hardcore | ガチで練習してる I’m practising seriously |
| 推し | Your favourite member, idol or character | 推しは誰？ Who’s your fave? |
| エモい | Nostalgic, emotional, moving | この写真エモい |
| ドタキャン | Cancelling at the last minute | ドタキャンされた They bailed on me |
| 草 / w | “LOL” online (w looks like grass, 草) | Written only, in chats and comments |
When slang works, and when it doesn’t
- Fine: friends, classmates, people your age once you’re on casual terms, group chats and social media.
- Risky: people older than you, a partner’s family, neighbours you don’t know well. Follow their lead.
- Avoid: work, customers, teachers, job interviews, emails and anything written formally. Here, polite Japanese and keigo are expected.
Slang is part of casual speech, so it also comes with casual verb forms and contractions. See casual vs polite Japanese and texting in Japanese.
Things to know before you copy slang
- Slang dates quickly. A word that was everywhere a few years ago can sound out of date or try-hard now. Copy what friends actually say rather than old lists.
- Age and region matter. Teen slang can sound odd from an adult, and some words are regional. See Kansai-ben and dialects.
- Some words are insults. Words like うざい (annoying) or キモい (gross) are common in dramas but hurtful when aimed at someone.
- Learners stand out. Japanese people often find it charming when a learner uses a well-placed めっちゃ, but a sentence full of slang with weak basics can sound odd. Build polite Japanese first.
How to learn real casual Japanese
- Watch shows set in everyday life and note the phrases that repeat. See learning Japanese with anime and dramas.
- Ask friends what words they actually use, and whether a word you heard sounds natural from you.
- Practise switching between casual and polite versions of the same sentence.
How Hanabuddies can help
Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one online, in English. In casual conversation lessons we teach the words and endings people really use, explain who you can use them with, and practise switching back to polite Japanese for work, travel and meeting a partner’s family.