Matt Fargo (52 page)
Authors: Dirty Japanese: Everyday Slang From "What's Up?" to "F*%# Off!"
Who’s your favorite singer?
sukina kashu wa
sukina kashu wa
Show me a cool Japanese band.
nihon no omoshiroi bando o shōkai shite
nihon no omoshiroi bando o shōkai shite
Do you play any instruments?
nanika gakki wa dekiru
nanika gakki wa dekiru
The chorus is really catchy.
sabi no tokoro ga omoroi
sabi no tokoro ga omoroi
I’m really into moshing.
suramu dansu ga daisuki
suramu dansu ga daisuki
owarai
The best thing about Japanese TV is the comedy shows. Japanese comedians will do just about anything for a laugh, and you don’t have to deal with crappy sketch comedy or stand-up. Being able to understand the jokes is reason enough to learn the language, but it’s also a huge part of the culture. Everyone from kids to adults knows the major comedy groups and their shows, and can riff on their favorite punchlines.
< ESSENTIAL COMEDY WORDS:
What the fuck?
nande yanen
nande yanen
This is the classic response to a joke. If someone makes a bad pun, or pokes fun at you, just look outraged and say “Nande yanen!”
Tsukkomi
tsukkomi
tsukkomiA tsukkomi is a joke at someone’s expense. You notice something funny about someone, and make a tsukkomi about it.
Are you retarded?
ahoka
ahoka
A very general tsukkomi.
Retard
boke
boke
This is the one the tsukkomi is directed at. All the great Japanese comedians usually come in pairs: one tsukkomi and one boke.
Punch line
ochi
ochi
Don’t always expect jokes to have them.
Pun
gyagu
gyagu
Japanese people have a humorous love/hate relationship with them.
Horrendous pun
oyaji gyagu
oyaji gyagu
The kind that will get your ass thrown in the punitentiary.
Quit it with the shitty puns.
oyaji gyagu iunatchū nen
oyaji gyagu iunatchū nen
This story has no punch line!
ochi ga naijan kono hanashi
ochi ga naijan kono hanashi
Stop making fun of me!
sonna ni tsukkomu na
sonna ni tsukkomu na
What are you talking about, retard?
nani ittendayo boke
nani ittendayo boke
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