Have you ever come across Japanese posts on social media and found yourself scratching your head, wondering what on earth they mean? 😯
It’s a common challenge, even for native Japanese speakers. Imagine scrolling through your friend’s Facebook feed, stumbling upon a post entirely in Japanese, and hitting the translate button only to be met with confusion. Been there?
Well, you’re not alone. In fact, I once had a friend from here (the States) ask me, “I tried translating your posts but they just don’t make sense. Could you throw in some English next time?” And that’s where the magic of Japanese social media slang comes in. It’s like a whole new language, filled with unique expressions and abbreviations that can leave even the most seasoned learners scratching their heads.
So, to make navigating Japanese social media a breeze, I’ve put together a handy guide: Japanese Social Media Slang Terms for Japanese Learners (English Meanings and Usage).
Let’s dive in and make sense of this fascinating online world together!
Japanese Social Media Slang Terms for Japanese Learners
| Japanese Term | English Translation | Meaning | Usage | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| www | LOL (laughing out loud), ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing) | Expressing laughter | Used at the end of a sentence to indicate laughter. The more "w"s, the harder the laughter. | wwwwwwwww |
| 笑 | smile, laugh | Expressing laughter | A more mature way of saying "www". Often used by guys. | 笑 |
| いいね | like | Showing approval or liking | Used to indicate that you like a post or comment. | この投稿いいね！ |
| 拡散希望 | Please retweet, Please share | Asking others to share a post | Used to encourage others to share a post or information. | この情報を拡散希望！ |
| ポチる | click, buy | Clicking on a button or link | Used to describe the action of clicking on something online. | 新しいアプリをポチった！ |
| エモい | Emotionalemotional, touching | Evoking strong emotions | Used to describe something that is heartwarming, touching, or nostalgic. | この曲エモい！ |
| 神 | amazing, awesome | Extremely good or impressive | Used to describe something that is exceptionally good or amazing. | この映画神！ |
| 草 | lol, wut | Expresses laughter, disbelief, or confusion | A more recent slang term for "lol". Often used in combination with other slang terms. | 草生えたwwwwww |
| マジ | seriously | Indicates seriousness | Used to emphasize something or to express surprise or disbelief. | マジで！？ |
| 卍 | swastika | Used as a charm for good luck, but can also have negative connotations; use with caution | Use with caution, as it can be offensive. | 卍卍卍 |
| 炎上 | go viral, cause a stir | A situation where someone or something receives widespread criticism or backlash | Used to describe a situation where someone or something is being heavily criticized online. | 炎上してるらしいよ |
| 民 | fans, followers | A group of people who support a particular person or thing | Used to refer to a group of fans or supporters. | アイドルグループの民 |
| 推し | favorite, idol | Someone or something that you are a big fan of | Used to refer to your favorite person, group, or thing. | 推しが尊い！ |
| 地雷 | dangerous person or situation to avoid | A person or thing that is potentially dangerous or problematic | Used to describe someone or something that is likely to cause trouble or conflict. | あの人は地雷だから気をつけて！ |
| バズる | go viral, become popular | A situation where something becomes widely popular or shared online | Used to describe something that is gaining a lot of attention or popularity online. | この動画バズってるね！ |
| 尊い | precious, adorable | Feeling admiration or reverence for something | Used to express admiration or reverence for something that is considered pure, beautiful, or special. | この子尊い！ |
| リア充 | someone who has a fulfilling real life | Someone who has a fulfilling and enjoyable life | Used to describe someone who is successful and happy in their personal life. | リア充すぎて羨ましい！ |
| ガチ | serious, real | Real or genuine | Used to emphasize that something is real, genuine, or not a joke. | ガチで頑張る！ |
| オタバレ | otaku disclosure | When someone's otaku (fanatic, manga or anime fan) interests are revealed | Used to describe a situation where someone's otaku interests are accidentally or unintentionally revealed. | オタバレしちゃった！ |
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of all Japanese social media slang terms. The meaning and usage of slang terms can change over time, so it is important to be aware of the current context when using them. Some slang terms may be offensive or inappropriate to use in certain situations.
This table is gonna get bigger and bigger. So stay tuned! 😉
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