Japan Culture Navi 日本語

LEARN REAL JAPANESE

Japanese Slang & Travel PhrasesThe real Japanese your textbook skipped

1054 words and phrases that Japanese people actually say, explained in plain English. From the travel lifesavers (sumimasen, yoroshiku onegaishimasu) to what teenagers type in group chats (pien, kusa, sore na) and the Osaka dialect you hear on TV (nandeyanen). Every entry has romaji, a real example, a usage note, and audio.

A watercolor illustration of three young friends practicing Japanese conversation together at a cafe.

✈️ Survive your trip

The phrases that get you fed, on the right train, and out of trouble, plus what staff will say to you.

🔥 Talk like young Japanese

Slang from classrooms, group chats, TikTok and fan culture. The biggest collection on this site.

🗾 Regional flavor

Osaka comedy talk, Okinawan warmth, and dialects from Hokkaido to Kyushu.

💬 Everyday Japanese

What you will hear all day: feelings, sound words, food talk, school and work.

🎌 Words with a story

Anime Japanese vs. real life, proverbs locals quote, “English” that isn’t English, and the words that trip up learners.

⭐ Start here: 12 words you will hear on day one

  1. すみませんsumimasenExcuse me / Sorry / Thank you (for the trouble)
  2. よろしくお願いしますyoroshiku onegaishimasuNice to meet you / I'm counting on you / Thanks in advance
  3. お疲れさまですotsukaresama desuThanks for your hard work / Hi (at work) / Good job today
  4. 大丈夫ですdaijobu desuI'm fine / No thanks / That's OK
  5. いただきますitadakimasuSaid before eating (roughly, "I gratefully receive")
  6. やばいyabaiCrazy, amazing, awful, oh no (it depends on the moment)
  7. マジmajiSeriously, really, for real
  8. エモいemoiNostalgic, bittersweet, emotionally stirring
  9. それなsore naExactly, so true
  10. 草kusaLOL (literally "grass")
  11. 推しoshiYour favorite (idol, character, member); the one you support
  12. めっちゃmetchavery / super / really

🎚️ Politeness in 60 seconds

Japanese changes shape depending on who you are talking to. You do not need to master keigo (honorific speech) as a visitor, but knowing these three levels will keep you out of trouble. Every entry on these pages is labeled.

Politeありがとうございますarigato gozaimasu

For shops, hotels, strangers, anyone older. Sentences end in -desu or -masu. You can never go wrong here.

Casualありがとうarigato

For friends, classmates, and people your age once you know them. Drop the -desu/-masu endings.

Very casualあざすazasu

Slang between close friends, mostly young people. Fun with friends, but it can sound cheeky to anyone else.

Handle with care marks words that can hurt or offend. Learn them so you understand what you hear, but think twice before saying them.

🔤 How to read the romaji on this page

  • Five vowels, always the same. a (as in father), i (see), u (food, but with relaxed lips), e (met), o (go, but shorter).
  • Every syllable gets the same beat. Ka-ra-o-ke has four even beats, not “carry-OH-kee.”
  • Long vowels are not marked here. We write arigato and Tokyo, but a Japanese speaker holds the o a little longer: a-ri-ga-to-o, to-o-kyo-o. Use the 🔊 button to hear it.
  • The u often disappears. Desu sounds like “dess,” and sumimasen often sounds like “s’mimasen.”
  • R is a light tap, somewhere between an English r, l and d. Think of the tt in a fast American “butter.”
  • Double consonants are a tiny pause. In matte (wait), stop for a moment on the t: ma-t-te.

📖 Go deeper: the culture behind the words

Some words carry more than a translation can hold. Our culture dictionary explains 141 of them in depth: where they come from, when to use them, and how to explain them in English.

Show all 141 culture guides

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is the most useful Japanese word for travelers?

Sumimasen. It means "excuse me," "sorry," and even "thank you for the trouble." You can use it to call a server, squeeze past someone on a train, or apologize for bumping into someone. If you learn only one word, make it this one.

What does "yabai" mean in Japanese slang?

Yabai originally meant "dangerous" or "bad news," and it still can. Among younger people it also means "amazing" or "insane" in a good way. The tone and the situation tell you which one: "Kono ramen yabai!" is praise, but "Yabai, densha ni okureru!" means you are about to miss the train.

Is it OK for foreigners to use Japanese slang?

Yes, with friends and people your age it usually gets a laugh and breaks the ice. With hotel staff, shop clerks, teachers, or anyone older, stick to polite forms ending in -desu or -masu. Slang used in the wrong place can sound rude rather than cool.

What is Kansai-ben?

Kansai-ben is the dialect spoken around Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. It is famous for its friendly, direct sound and for comedy. Words like metcha (very), honma (really) and akan (no good) are Kansai-ben, and many of them are now heard all over Japan through TV.

What does JK mean in Japanese slang?

JK stands for joshi kosei, a high school girl. "JK slang" (JK-go) is the playful vocabulary that spreads from high school students through social media, such as pien (a crying-face feeling) or sore na (so true). Many of these words change quickly, so some sound dated only a few years later.

Why do Japanese people say "daijobu desu" when they mean no?

"Daijobu desu" literally means "it's fine," but in shops it often means "I'm fine without it, thanks." When a clerk asks if you need a bag and you say "daijobu desu," you are politely saying no. It is one of the most common traps for visitors.

All explanations are written by the Japan Culture Navi editors. Slang changes fast and varies by region, age and school, so treat the “current / dated” notes as a guide, not a rule.