Slang & Viral Words スラング
The words Japanese 20-somethings actually use.
Slang & Viral WordsドパガキWhat Is a ‘Dopagaki’ (ドパガキ)? Japan’s Slang for Being Hooked on the Scroll
Scrolling short videos in the bath, under the hair dryer, in bed at 2 a.m.? Japan has a cheeky new word for that — and it’s one of 2026’s Word of the Year nominees.
Slang & Viral Wordsフレネミー‘Frenemy’ in Japanese: Why フレネミー Became One of 2026’s Words of the Year Nominees
Japanese borrowed ‘frenemy’ from English — and this year it went mainstream. What フレネミー means in Japan, how it’s used, and the other words Japanese has for complicated friendships.
Slang & Viral WordsガチWhat Does ‘Gachi’ (ガチ) Mean? From Sumo Slang to ‘For Real’
ガチで? Seriously? This tiny word started in the sumo ring and became one of the most common ways young Japanese say ‘seriously.’ Plus: ガチ勢, エンジョイ勢 and ガチる.
Slang & Viral WordsエモいWhat Does ‘Emoi’ (エモい) Mean? The Japanese Word for a Feeling English Can’t Quite Name
Film photos, old train stations, a song from your school days. Japanese has one small word for that bittersweet, nostalgic ache — and you can start using it today.
Slang & Viral WordsワホーWhat Are Japanese Teens Saying in 2026? 5 Words From the Girls’ High School Trend Awards
An 11-year-old YouTube line, a song title in Osaka dialect, and a squishy toy. Japan’s teen trend rankings show that in 2026, ‘new’ and ‘old’ have melted together.
Slang & Viral WordsやばいWhat Does ‘Yabai’ (やばい) Mean? The Japanese Word That Means Both ‘Terrible’ and ‘Amazing’
Your Japanese friend tastes the ramen and says ‘yabai.’ Is it good or bad? Here’s how one word came to mean danger, disaster and delight — and how to tell which one.
Slang & Viral Wordsタイパ‘Taipa’ (タイパ): Why Young Japanese Watch Shows at 1.5x Speed
Cost performance was the old obsession. Now it’s time performance. Meet タイパ, the word that explains double-speed streaming, spoiler-first viewing and a whole generation’s relationship with time.
Slang & Viral Words滅‘So Cute I’m Destroyed’: Why Japanese Teens Can’t Stop Saying 滅
One kanji, one syllable, and a whole lot of feelings. Meet 〇〇で滅 — the slang that took over Japanese social media in 2026.