Japanese Internet Slang 2025: Master Online Japanese Like a Native
Learn the latest Japanese internet slang, memes, and online expressions used by native speakers in 2025. From TikTok to Twitter, master digital Japanese communication.
Why Learn Internet Slang?
Understanding Japanese internet slang is crucial for engaging with real Japanese content online. Whether you're watching YouTube, scrolling through Twitter/X, or chatting on Discord, this guide will help you understand and use the language that native speakers actually use in 2025!
The Evolution of Japanese Internet Language
Japanese internet slang evolves rapidly, blending traditional Japanese wordplay with global internet culture. In 2025, we're seeing influences from TikTok, gaming communities, and even AI-generated content shaping how young Japanese people communicate online.
Understanding Internet Japanese
Key Characteristics
- Abbreviations: Shortening long phrases
- Number puns: Using numbers that sound like words
- Kanji creativity: Using kanji in unexpected ways
- English mixing: Blending Japanese with English terms
- Emoji culture: Specific emoji combinations with meanings
Essential Internet Slang Terms for 2025
1. ่ (kusa) - The Universal "LOL"
The most fundamental internet slang you need to know!
่ Usage Examples
ใใ่
That's hilarious
Sore kusa
่็ใใ
I'm dying of laughter
Kusa haeru
ๅคง่ๅ
ROFLMAO (literally: vast grassland)
Dai sougen
Evolution of ่
Why grass? It comes from "w" (warau = laugh) โ "www" looks like grass โ ่
- ่ = lol
- ่่่ or ่www = lololol
- ่ไธๅฏ้ฟ (kusa fukahi) = can't help but laugh
2. ใใบใ (bazuru) - To Go Viral
From the English "buzz," this verb is essential for social media discussions.
ใใบใ Examples
ใใฎๅ็ปใใบใฃใฆใ๏ผ
This video is going viral!
Kono douga bazutteru!
ใใบใใใใชๆ็จฟ
A post that might go viral
Bazuri sou na toukou
ใใบใ็ใ
Trying to go viral (often negative)
Bazuri nerai
3. ใจใขใ (emoi) - Emotional/Nostalgic
Derived from "emotional," but with a uniquely Japanese nuance.
ใจใขใ Situations
- Sunset photos
- Nostalgic music
- Deep friendship moments
- Aesthetic scenes
- Bittersweet memories
ใจใขใ Usage
ใใฎๆฒใจใขใ
This song hits different (emotionally)
Kono kyoku emoi
ใจใขใๅ็ๆฎใใ
I took an aesthetic/emotional photo
Emoi shashin toreta
4. ใฏใณใใฃใณ (wanchan) - Maybe/Possibly
Short for "one chance," used when something might be possible.
ใฏใณใใฃใณ Examples
ใฏใณใใฃใณใใ
There's a chance
Wanchan aru
ใฏใณใใฃใณ่กใใใใ
Maybe I can go
Wanchan ikeru kamo
ใฏใณใใฃใณ็ก็
Probably impossible
Wanchan muri
5. ๆจใ (oshi) - Your Favorite/Stan
Originally from idol culture, now used for any favorite person, character, or thing.
ๆจใ Culture
- ๆจใๆดป (oshi-katsu): Supporting your favorite
- ๆจใใกใณ (oshi-men): Favorite member (of a group)
- ๆจใๅค (oshi-hen): Changing your favorite
- ๆจใใๅฐใ (oshi ga toutoi): My fave is precious
Modern Texting Abbreviations
Common Shortened Forms
Daily Abbreviations
ใใ / ใ
ไบ่งฃ (ryoukai) - Got it
Ryo / ri
ใใค
ใ็ฒใๆง (otsukaresama) - Good work/bye
Otsu
ใใผใญ
ใใผใใชใใปใฉใญ - Ah, I see
Ah ne
ใใใช
ใใใ ใช - Exactly/That's right
Sore na
Number-Based Slang
Number Wordplay
- 39 = ใตใณใญใฅใผ (thank you)
- 4649 = ใใใใ (yoroshiku - nice to meet you)
- 888 = ใใใใใใ (clapping)
- 114514 = ใใใใใใ (ii yo koi yo - come on!)
- 5963 = ใ่ฆๅดใใ (gokurou-san - thanks for your work)
Platform-Specific Slang
Twitter/X Terminology
Twitter/X Slang
ใใกใใ
To favorite/like a tweet
Faboru
ใชใ
Reply
Ripu
ใจใขใชใ
Indirect reply (subtweet)
Ea ripu
FFๅคใใๅคฑ็คผใใพใ
Sorry for replying when we don't follow each other
FF-gai kara shitsurei shimasu
TikTok & Video Platform Terms
Video Platform Slang
- ๅใๆใ (kirinuki): Clips/highlights
- ๆญใฃใฆใฟใ (utatte mita): Singing cover
- ่ธใฃใฆใฟใ (odotte mita): Dance cover
- ใใใฆใฟใ (shite mita): "I tried doing..."
- ใฌใๅข (gachi-zei): Serious/hardcore fans
Gaming Slang
Gaming Terms
ใฌใ
Serious/for real
Gachi
็ก็ใฒใผ
Impossible game/situation
Muri gee
็ฅใฒใผ
Amazing game
Kami gee
ๅฐ้ท
Toxic player (literally: landmine)
Jirai
Meme Language and Trends
Current Meme Formats
2025 Meme Patterns
ใใใๅใใ (shika katan): "Nothing beats..."
- ๆจใใใๅใใ = Nothing beats my fave
- ใฉใผใกใณใใๅใใ = Nothing beats ramen
ใใฃใฆๆใ (tte kanji): "It's like..."
- ใใฐใใฃใฆๆใ = It's like, crazy
- ็ก็ใฃใฆๆใ = It's like, impossible
Reaction Expressions
Common Reactions
ใพใใ
Seriously?
Maji ka
ใใฐใ / ใคใใ
Crazy/awesome/terrible (context-dependent)
Yabai
ใใคใ
Tough/harsh/difficult
Kitsui
ใใใฉใ
Exhausting/tough (emotional or physical)
Shindoi
Emoji and Emoticon Culture
Japanese Emoticons (้กๆๅญ)
Popular Kaomoji
- (ยด๏ฝฅฯ๏ฝฅ`) - Sad/disappointed
- (๏ผพฯ๏ผพ) - Happy
- ( ๏พะ๏พ) - Shocked
- (๏ฟฃโฝ๏ฟฃ) - Satisfied/smug
- orz - Despair (looks like person on hands and knees)
- ๏ผผ(^o^)๏ผ - Celebration
Emoji Combinations with Meaning
Emoji Slang
๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
ใใคใ/ใใฐใ - Hot/intense
Atsui/yabai
๐
ๅคฉไฝฟ/ใใๅญ - Angel/good person (sometimes sarcastic)
Tenshi/ii ko
๐ฅบ๐๐
ใ้กใ - Please (cute/shy way)
Onegai
How to Sound Natural Online
Do's and Don'ts
Important Tips
DO:
- Use hiragana more than usual online
- Mix in appropriate slang naturally
- Understand context before using slang
- Follow platform-specific conventions
DON'T:
- Overuse slang in every sentence
- Use outdated terms (like 2ch-era slang)
- Mix formal and slang randomly
- Use slang in professional contexts
Context Matters
Appropriate Usage
- Casual Twitter: Heavy slang OK
- YouTube comments: Moderate slang
- Discord/LINE: Match the group's vibe
- Professional: Avoid most slang
- Mixed audience: Use sparingly
Practical Conversation Examples
Texting Conversation
Natural Chat Example
A: ไปๆฅใฒใพ๏ผ
A: Free today?
A: Kyou hima?
B: ใฏใณใใฃใณใใ๏ผไฝๆ๏ผ
B: Maybe! What time?
B: Wanchan aru! Nanji?
A: 3ๆใจใใฉใ๏ผ
A: How about 3?
A: San-ji toka dou?
B: ใใ๏ผใใใๅพใงใ
B: Got it! See you later~
B: Ryo! Jaa ato de~
Social Media Comments
Comment Examples
ใใใจใขใ...
This hits different...
Kore emoi...
ใพใใง่www
Actually hilarious lol
Maji de kusa www
ๆจใใใๅใใ๐ญ
Nothing beats my fave ๐ญ
Oshi shika katan
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using Outdated Slang
Avoid These Outdated Terms
- ๆฟใใ (geki oko) - Super angry (2010s)
- ใใฆใ (naui) - Trendy (1980s!)
- ใใงใใชใ (choberi ba) - Very bad (1990s)
- KY - Can't read the room (2000s)
Misusing Context
Context Fails
- Using ใฏใณใใฃใณ in formal emails
- Saying ่ to express actual grass
- Using ๆจใ for objects (it's mainly for people/characters)
- Overusing ใจใขใ for everything
How Internet Slang Spreads
The Lifecycle of Slang
Slang Evolution
- Birth: Usually on Twitter, TikTok, or streaming platforms
- Spread: Through memes and influencers
- Peak: When everyone uses it
- Decline: Becomes "cringe" when overused
- Death/Revival: Either dies or becomes standard
Practice Exercises
Test Your Knowledge
Translate these messages:
- ใใฎๅ็ปใพใใง่
- ๆจใๆดปใใฆใใใ้ใชใใชใฃใ
- ใฏใณใใฃใณๆๆฅไผใใ๏ผ
- ใใฎใขใใกใจใขใใใ
Click for answers
- That video is seriously hilarious
- I ran out of money supporting my fave
- Maybe we can meet tomorrow?
- This anime is too emotional/aesthetic
Staying Updated
How to Keep Learning
- Follow Japanese Twitter accounts
- Watch Japanese YouTube/TikTok
- Join Japanese Discord servers
- Read comments on popular posts
- Use Japanese streaming platforms
Summary
Internet slang is the living, breathing edge of language evolution. Master it, and you'll understand not just what Japanese people are saying online, but how they're feeling and thinking in 2025.
You're Ready!
With these terms, you can now navigate Japanese social media, understand memes, and even participate in online conversations. Remember: slang changes fast, so stay curious and keep learning!
Start using these terms in appropriate contexts, and you'll sound much more natural online. Just remember - with great slang power comes great responsibility. Use wisely! ๐ฅ
Ready to practice your internet Japanese? Download Suppai and join our community where you can use these terms with other learners and native speakers!
Keita Sensei
Founder of Suppai
Passionate about making Japanese learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Follow for more tips and insights into mastering the Japanese language! ๐