Japanese Vocabulary: Slang of Young Japanese People

Japanese vocabulary: slang of young Japanese people

1. GEN Z-STYLE GREETINGS
ヤッホー！(Yahhoo!) Meaning: Hi! (Casual, cheerful).

おっす！(Ossu!) Meaning: Hey! (Short form, usually among friends).

元気？(Genki?) Meaning: How are you? (Casual, no need for the full sentence).

お疲れ〜！(Otsukare~!) Meaning: Good work! (Used as a greeting when meeting friends after school or work).

2. TRENDY EXCLAMATIONS

やばい！(Yabai!)
Meaning: Awesome / Terrible (depending on context).

Example:
このアイス、やばいほど美味しい！
Kono aisu, yabai hodo oishii!
This ice cream is unbelievably good!

マジで？(Maji de?)
Meaning: Seriously? (Very common when surprised).

Example:
マジでそんなことあったの？
Maji de sonna koto atta no?
Did that really happen?

ウケる！(Ukeru!)
Meaning: That's hilarious!
(Note: use ukeru carefully; in some regions it may be taken as sarcasm.)

Example:
その話ウケる〜！
Sono hanashi ukeru~!
That story is hilarious!

ガチで！(Gachi de!)
Meaning: For real! (Used for emphasis).

Example:
ガチで今の話信じられない！
Gachi de ima no hanashi shinjirarenai!
For real, I can't believe that story!

3. PHRASES FOR DISCUSSIONS

微妙〜 (Bimyou~)
Meaning: Not sure / A bit off.

Example:
この映画、微妙だったよね。
Kono eiga, bimyou datta yo ne.
This film is a bit off, isn't it?

それな！(Sore na!)
Meaning: Exactly! / So true!

Example:
あの先生、めっちゃ厳しいよね。
Ano sensei, meccha kibishii yo ne.
That teacher is strict, isn't he.
→ “それな！” (Sore na! – So true!).

ありえない！(Arienai!)
Meaning: Unbelievable!

Example:
彼が遅刻するなんて、ありえない！
Kare ga chikoku suru nante, arienai!
I can't believe he was late!

4. COMPLIMENTS AND CRITICISM

かわいい〜！(Kawaii~!)
Meaning: So cute!

Example:
そのバッグ、かわいい〜！どこで買ったの？
Sono baggu, kawaii~! Doko de katta no?
That bag is so cute! Where did you buy it?

キモい！(Kimoi!)
Meaning: Gross / Creepy!

Example:
あの虫、キモい！
Ano mushi, kimoi!
That bug is gross!

イケてる！(Iketeru!)
Meaning: So cool! / Awesome!

Example:
その髪型、イケてるね！
Sono kamigata, iketeru ne!
That hairstyle is really cool!

5. JOKING OR EXPRESSING SURPRISE

ウソでしょ？(Uso desho?)
Meaning: You're kidding? / Are you joking?

Example:
ウソでしょ？まだ宿題やってないの？
Uso desho? Mada shukudai yatte nai no?
Are you kidding? You haven't done your homework?

おもしろすぎ！(Omoshirosugi!)
Meaning: That's too funny!

Example:
この動画、おもしろすぎ！
Kono douga, omoshirosugi!
This video is hilarious!

ヤダ〜！(Yada~!)
Meaning: No way! / Oh no! (Playful, slightly whiny).

Example:
ヤダ〜、雨降ってる！
Yada~, ame futteru!
Oh no, it's raining!

6. SHORT, COMMON PHRASES

やるじゃん！(Yaru jan!) Meaning: Not bad! / Well done!

テンション上がる！(Tenshon agaru!) Meaning: I'm so pumped!

まじウケる！(Maji ukeru!) Meaning: That's really funny!

さいこう！(Saikou!) Meaning: The best!

Source: Huế Phạm

See also:
1000 Kaiwa Questions N5 – N4 PDF
Practical Kaiwa for Work – Part 5