44 words
Japanese everyday words
Ordinary Japanese that a textbook translates but never quite explains.
- 垢抜ける akanukeru Suddenly, they look polished.
- 天邪鬼 amanojaku Contrary on principle.
- あるある aruaru So relatable. Classic.
- 微妙 bimyou The polite way to say no.
- ぼちぼち bochibochi So-so. And that's fine.
- ぼったくり bottakuri Daylight robbery, with a receipt.
- 忘年会 bounenkai The party where you drink the year away.
- ブラック企業 burakku kigyou A company that grinds people down.
- ダラダラ daradara Doing nothing, at length.
- だるい darui Even my bones are tired.
- ドンマイ donmai Don't worry about it.
- ドタキャン dotakyan Cancelled. Ten minutes before.
- ごちそうさま gochisousama Thanks, that was a feast.
- ゴロゴロ gorogoro Rolling around doing nothing.
- ぐったり guttari Completely wilted, zero energy left.
- 花見 hanami Picnic under the cherry blossoms.
- 八方美人 happou bijin Nice to everyone, trusted by no one.
- 初詣 hatsu moude First shrine visit of the year.
- ホワイト企業 howaito kigyou A company that lets you have a life.
- イチャイチャ ichaicha Two people being unbearably couple-y.
- いただきます itadakimasu Thanks for this meal.
- いってらっしゃい itte rasshai Off you go — and come back safe.
- じめじめ jimejime Damp, sticky, clammy air.
- 幹事 kanji The one who has to organise the party.
- コスパ kosupa Worth every single yen.
- 口癖 kuchiguse The phrase someone always says.
- まったり mattari Slow, soft, unhurried.
- めんどい mendoi Such a hassle.
- 三日坊主 mikka bouzu Quits everything by day three.
- 寝落ち neochi Fell asleep mid-everything.
- 二次会 nijikai The after-party. Where it really starts.
- ニヤニヤ niyaniya The grin you can't quite hide.
- おごる ogoru This one's on me.
- おじゃまします ojama shimasu Sorry to intrude — said at every door.
- おかえり okaeri Welcome back.
- お先に失礼します osaki ni shitsurei shimasu Sorry for leaving before you.
- おつかれ otsukare Good work today. And hi. And bye.
- すっぴん suppin Face, no makeup, no filter.
- ただいま tadaima I'm home!
- タイパ taipa Was that worth my minutes?
- とりあえずビール toriaezu biiru Beer first, decide later.
- 割り勘 warikan Split the bill, straight down the middle.
- やっぱり yappari I knew it. Or: actually, changed my mind.
- ゆるい yurui Pleasantly low-effort.
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