If you’re learning Japanese, this page works like a study sheet: clear entries, quick context, and a format that’s easy to review in short sessions.
If you’re ready to sound a little less textbook and a little more like an actual human in conversation, you’re in the right place. Scroll to the bottom of this article for the free printable Japanese slang for beginners vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable Japanese slang for beginners flashcards.
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| Expression | Reading | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY | けーわい | someone who can't read the room | 彼はちょっとKYだね。 | He's a bit clueless about the mood. |
| www | www | lol; internet laughter | それはwww | That’s lol. |
| アツい | atsui | awesome; exciting; intense | この試合、アツいね。 | This game is intense. |
| アニメオタ | anime ota | anime nerd; anime otaku | 彼はアニメオタで、毎日アニメを見ている。 | He’s an anime nerd and watches anime every day. |
| いいね | iine | like; thumbs-up | その投稿にいいねしたよ。 | I liked that post. |
| イケてる | いけてる | cool; stylish; attractive | その髪型、イケてるね。 | That hairstyle is cool. |
| イケメン | ikemen | handsome guy | あの人、イケメンだね。 | That guy is handsome. |
| インスタ映え | いんすたばえ | Instagram-worthy; looks good on social media | このカフェ、インスタ映えするね。 | This cafe is Instagram-worthy. |
| ウケる | ukeru | funny; LOL | その話、ウケる。 | That story is funny. |
| ウケるわ | うけるわ | that's hilarious | ウケるわ | that's hilarious |
| うざい | uzai | annoying; irritating | あの音、うざいな。 | That noise is annoying. |
| ウザい | うざい | annoying; irritating | 蚊がうざい。 | Mosquitoes are annoying. |
| うそでしょ | うそでしょ | no way; you're kidding | うそでしょ | no way; you're kidding |
| エグい | えぐい | extreme; brutal; insane | あの暑さ、エグいね。 | That heat is brutal. |
| エモい | えもい | emotional; nostalgic; touching | この曲、すごくエモい。 | This song is really emotional. |
| オタ活 | otakatsu | fan activities; otaku hobby life | 週末はオタ活でイベントに行く。 | On weekends, I go to events for my fan activities. |
| おつ | otsu | good work; thanks for your effort | おつ | good work; thanks for your effort |
| オワコン | owakon | obsolete; dead and gone | そのアプリはもうオワコンだ。 | That app is already outdated. |
| ガチ | gachi | for real; serious; legit | 彼はガチでサッカーがうまい。 | He is seriously good at soccer. |
| ガチで | gachide | seriously; for real | ガチでおいしいよ。 | It’s seriously delicious. |
| ガリガリ | garigari | very skinny; bony | 彼はガリガリで、あまり食べない。 | He’s very skinny and doesn’t eat much. |
| キツい | きつい | tough; harsh; cringey | この仕事はキツいです。 | This job is tough. |
| キテる | kiteru | is trending; is really good; is on the rise | このバンド、今キテるよ。 | This band is really popular right now. |
| キモい | kimoi | gross; creepy | その虫、キモい。 | That bug is gross. |
| キモかわ | きもかわ | gross-cute; weirdly cute | このキャラ、キモかわで人気だよ。 | This character is weirdly cute and popular. |
Free Japanese Slang for Beginners PDF and Flashcard Downloads
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