The popularization of Japanese slang

Japanese culture is best known for its quiet politeness and strict adherence to tradition. From the proper way to wear a kimono to the manner in which one offers even a simple “thank you,” there is a strong sense of structure and ritual that seems to be part of every aspect of Japanese society.

And while that is often very true, there are nevertheless many layers to life. We don’t always speak or express ourselves in the grammatically perfect or polite ways that language textbooks like to promote. In fact, the Japanese are particularly fond of playing with language, in large part thanks to the versatility and nuance that their writing systems naturally provide.

Very often, this results in clever and playful combinations of kanji, kana, and English, where a conventional phrase is twisted wryly or turned entirely on its head in a way that captures contemporary social attitudes. And as a form of expression, Japanese slang has proven itself to be incredibly dynamic and adaptable.

As social media and digital messaging platforms have gained an unprecedented level of popularity and engagement across all sectors of our increasingly global society, the changes to language have been rapid, and what would have remained isolated pockets of slang within one community have instead crossed over cultural, linguistic, and national boundaries and reached people they never would have in the earlier days of social media.

Of course, this hasn’t happened without causing a number of problems.

A dictionary for the digital generation

With the anonymity and social distance that comes with communicating online—from sending tweets and sharing memes to posting comments on video-sharing sites like Niconico Douga and Youtube—has come a rise in many people’s unfortunate confidence to use offensive and derogatory phrases in public spaces. Naturally, racism and sexism are not exclusive to the internet or social media, but these are the places where such language is now most commonly encountered. And that is why this dictionary exists: to help learners of Japanese to better understand the context of what they hear and read, especially in informal spaces where slang is the dominant form of expression. And with this knowledge, perhaps those learners will be more mindful of the language they use and share themselves.

Luckily, not everything is doom and gloom. While some of the slang contained here is derogatory or rude, the rest of it is a normal part of casual Japanese, overflowing with charm, cultural insights and snarky takes on popular culture. These phrases are fascinating, fun, and often extremely eye-opening for students whose exposure to Japanese has been limited to the classroom and to nice, polite grammar books.

The language here is not polite, and you won’t be taught it in a classroom. It’s raw Japanese that lives in the wild, and I hope you find it valuable.

– Maki Hayasaka

To boost your studies, check out our collection of Japanese self-study books and apps. From traditional grammar to internet slang and ancient proverbs, we have everything you need to learn Japanese effectively.