{"id":106071,"date":"2023-11-02T15:27:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T19:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/japanese-internet-slang\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T01:08:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T06:08:25","slug":"japanese-internet-slang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-internet-slang\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Internet Slang: WKTK, KWSK and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

It should come as no surprise that Japan has its own unique internet slang.\u00a0You can call me a Grade-A , \u30cd\u30c3\u30c8\u4e2d\u6bd2\u00a0(\u306d\u3063\u3068\u3061\u3085\u3046\u3069\u3046\u304f-\u00a0internet addict).\u00a0I spend more time than I\u2019d like to admit roaming the internet, ghosting my favorite blogs<\/a> and watching hours worth of tear-jerking Japanese dramas<\/a> and cat videos on YouTube.<\/p>\n

During my hours of internet lurking on Japanese forums and social networks, I\u2019ve picked up a few \u30cd\u30c3\u30c8\u30b9\u30e9\u30f3\u30b0 (\u306d\u3063\u3068\u3059\u3089\u3093\u3050–<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0internet slang) that I\u2019d like to share with you.<\/p>\n

Below, I’ll show you some of the most common Japanese internet slang that\u2019s dominated Japan\u2019s web!<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Top Four Japanese Internet Slang<\/h2>\n

Whether you’re posting updates on Mixi or streaming your favorite anime<\/a>\u00a0on Nico Nico, these four internet phrases will show up everywhere:<\/p>\n

W – Lol
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cW\u201d is the equivalent to \u201clol.\u201d The \u201cw\u201d is short for \u7b11\u3046 (\u308f\u3089\u3046 – to laugh). You\u2019ll also see the kanji character \u7b11 (\u308f\u3089\u3044–<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0laugh) used pretty often. I find that \u7b11 is more mature sounding (think of \u201chahaha\u201d vs. \u201clololol\u201d), and in my experience I\u2019ve seen more guys use \u7b11 over \u201cw\u201d.<\/p>\n

WKTK – Excited
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is such a popular acronym that it\u2019s spread from the web and is now found in text messages, advertisements and even modern manga<\/a>. Try sounding it out and seeing if you can guess what it means first.<\/p>\n

Did you get it? Wktk means that you\u2019re excited for something to happen. It comes from \u30ef\u30af\u30ef\u30af\u30c6\u30ab\u30c6\u30ab (\u308f\u304f\u308f\u304f\u3066\u304b\u3066\u304b) which is a Japanese onomatopoeia<\/a> for \u201cexcited\u201d or \u201ctrembling with excitement\u201d.<\/p>\n

Excited for the second season of your favorite anime<\/a>\u00a0to come out? Wktk.<\/p>\n

Your bff Jill is about to text you about those AKB48 tickets she scored? Wktk.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re watching the microwave count down the seconds until you can be united with your reheated okonomiyaki? Wktk.<\/p>\n

KWSK – Details, please
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Kwsk is another acronym using the Latin alphabet (Spoiler alert: There are a ton of those). Kwsk is short for \u8a73\u3057\u304f (\u304f\u308f\u3057\u304f-\u00a0in detail). The real meaning of kwks is \u201cGive lots of detail(s), please!\u201d or better known, \u201cDetails, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find this on all corners of the internet. Another way to be polite in Japanese<\/a> when asking (begging) for something is by using\u00a04649 (also written as “yr” and “46”). The number four stands for \u3088, six is \u308d, 4 is \u3057\u00a0and 9 is \u304f. Together these numbers stand for \u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f (please [requesting]).<\/p>\n

\u4e59 – Good work
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Okay, I know what you\u2019re thinking: what’s that? This Japanese kanji character is pronounced as \u304a\u3064\u00a0in this situation, and has a heavy presence on the Japanese side of the internet. \u4e59\u00a0is an abbreviation of \u304a\u75b2\u308c\u69d8 (\u304a\u3064\u304b\u308c\u3055\u307e), a phrase meaning \u201cThank you for all your hard work\u201d.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll see this on a number of forums and video streaming websites, and may even get it in a text from time to time. Similarly, you might see someone get praised with \u3046\u307d\u3064 (thank you for\u00a0uploading) or 888 (pronounced as \u3071\u3061\u3071\u3061\u3071\u3061, the sound of snapping or clapping), which means \u201cclap clap clap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Japanese Slang for Online Social Networks<\/h2>\n

Finally, you’ll need to know how to talk about who you’re following on Twitter or which fan group you’ve just joined. If you’re an internet socialite then think of these as your\u00a0survival phrases<\/a>\u00a0for the internet realm.<\/p>\n

\u30c4\u30a4- A tweet
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Written in both hiragana and katakana<\/a>, \u3064\u3044\uff0f\u30c4\u30a4 (a tweet) is the noun form of \u201ctweet.\u201d If you\u2019re a \u30c4\u30a4\u30c3\u30bf\u30fc\u4e2d\u6bd2 (\u3064\u3044\u3063\u305f\u30fc\u3061\u3085\u3046\u3069\u304f –\u00a0twitter addict) then you\u2019ll be sending out tweets just as fast as your feed is updating them. The verb \u201cto tweet\u201d is \u3064\u3076\u3084\u304f (literally “to murmur”).<\/p>\n

Some people use \u30c4\u30a4\u30fc\u30c8\uff08\u3059\u308b\uff09(\u3064\u3044\u30fc\u3068[\u3059\u308b] – to tweet). When someone is retweeting or specifically directing a tweet at someone, \u30ea\u30c4\u30a4\u30fc\u30c8\u3059\u308b (\u308a\u3064\u3044\u30fc\u3068\u3059\u308b – to retweet) is used.<\/p>\n

\u30d5\u30a9\u30ed\u30fc – To follow
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is an easy one! \u30d5\u30a9\u30ed\u30fc\u3059\u308b (\u3075\u3049\u308d\u30fc\u3059\u308b) is \u201cto follow\u201d an account on social media sites like Twitter or Instagram. If you do follow your favorite celebrity (Hiroshi Abe\u2665), then you\u2019re known as their \u30d5\u30a9\u30ed\u30ef\u30fc (\u3075\u3049\u308d\u308f\u30fc –\u00a0follower).<\/p>\n

\u30af\u30e9\u30b9\u30bf- Fan group
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u30af\u30e9\u30b9\u30bf (\u304f\u3089\u3059\u305f–<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0cluster) is another way to say \u201cfan group\u201d. If you love Ayumi Hamasaki, then you could be part of a \u3042\u3086\u30af\u30e9\u30b9\u30bf (\u3042\u3086\u304f\u3089\u3059\u305f –\u00a0Ayu fan group).<\/p>\n

Or if you\u2019re a person who likes to tweet or reblog meaningful quotes, you could say you\u2019re part of a \u30cd\u30bf\u30af\u30e9\u30b9\u30bf (\u306d\u305f\u304f\u3089\u3059\u305f – a group who tweets something amusing or interesting). Where can I join the \u30b1\u30fc\u30ad\u30af\u30e9\u30b9\u30bf (\u3051\u30fc\u304d\u304f\u3089\u3059\u305f–<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0cake cluster)?<\/p>\n

GGRKS – Google it yourself
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is short for \u30b0\u30b0\u30ec\u30ab\u30b9 (\u3050\u3050\u308c\u304b\u3059-\u00a0google it, scum). It\u2019s used to say \u201cGo Google it yourself\u201d when someone is too lazy to look up information. Since \u201cscum\u201d is a part of this acronym, it shouldn\u2019t be used left and right. Still, you\u2019ll see ggrks<\/em> all over 2\u3061\u3083\u3093 (\u306b\u3061\u3083\u3093).<\/p>\n

\u8ab0\u5f97 – Who benefits from this
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I had seen my friend\u2019s Twitter and Facebook feeds painted with the expression \u8ab0\u5f97 (\u3060\u308c\u3068\u304f) but no matter how many dictionaries I searched through, I just couldn\u2019t grasp its meaning. \u8ab0\u5f97 is an abbreviation of \u8ab0\u304c\u5f97\u3059\u308b\u3093\u3060\u3088 (\u3060\u308c\u304c \u3068\u304f\u3059\u308b\u3093\u3060\u3088). Both expressions can be translated to: “Who benefits from this?” It\u2019s best used when someone is getting irritated about something:<\/p>\n

My boss asked me to work overtime, but there\u2019s nothing to do. \u8ab0\u5f97?<\/em><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an article about a five-hundred dollar macaroon that\u2019s encrusted in 24k gold! \u8ab0\u5f97?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes you\u2019ll see others respond to \u8ab0\u5f97 with \u4ffa\u5f97 (\u304a\u308c\u3068\u304f) which is like saying, \u201cIt\u2019s for me!\u201d or \u201cIt\u2019s for my benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Online Gaming Japanese Slang<\/h2>\n

You don’t have to be a big gamer to use these next four. In fact, some of these slang words<\/a> will still be seen around forums and chat rooms.<\/p>\n

55 – Go go!
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Since the Japanese number five is pronounced as \u201c\u3054,\u201d it\u2019s pretty easy to guess the meaning of \u201c55!\u201d when it\u2019s used on the web\u2014especially if you\u2019re about to embark on an online battle with your gaming partners.<\/p>\n

Right before a game starts, or when you\u2019re about to take down the final boss you\u2019ll see 555 (\u30b4\u30fc\u3001\u30b4\u30fc\u3001\u30b4\u30fc\uff01-\u00a0go, go, go!) written in the chat (if your partner\u2019s not already shouting into your headphones!).<\/p>\n

\u304a\u3081 – Congrats
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u304a\u3081\u00a0is an abbreviation of \u304a\u3081\u3067\u3068\u3046 (congratulations). Think of it as saying \u201ccongrats.\u201d I first ran into this after finishing a virtual game of \u4e03\u4e26\u3079 (\u3057\u3061\u306a\u3089\u3079 –\u00a0Sevens card game), and ever since have spotted it anywhere congratulations are due<\/a> (in the virtual world).<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong>
\nPlayer 1: \u30d7\u30ec\u30fc\u30e4\u30fc\uff12\u3001\u304a\u3081 (\u3077\u308c\u30fc\u3084\u30fc\uff12\u3001\u304a\u3081 – Player 2, congrats.)
\nPlayer 3: \uff12\u3055\u3093\u3001\u304a\u3081 (2 san, congrats.)
\nPlayer 2: \u3042\u308a ^^ (Thanks.)<\/p>\n

\u3042\u308a – Thanks
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you looked at the example above, you may have noticed that Player 2 says \u201c\u3042\u308a\u201d after being congratulated by fellow players. \u3042\u308a\u00a0stands for \u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046 (thank you). In my experience on the web, this is used mostly in games as a short \u201cthanks,\u201d but you may still spot it on message boards.<\/p>\n

\u3053n – Hi
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A common and quick greeting, \u3053n (\u3053\u3093)\u00a0is short for \u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f (hello). It\u2019s used when greeting others in web chats and live-streaming comments, or when greeting someone in a conversation. This pattern of kana character + Latin character is pretty common and can be seen with other \u30cd\u30c3\u30c8\u30b9\u30e9\u30f3\u30b0\u00a0like \u3093p (no problem) and \u3046p (upload).<\/p>\n

Japanese Online Personalities and Personas<\/h2>\n

No matter where you are in the world, there will always be internet trolls or annoying anons gracing message boards. Here’s a list of some common internet personalities that you’ll run into.<\/p>\n

\u540d\u7121\u3057\u3055\u3093 – Anon
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re familiar with 2\u3061\u3083\u3093 (\u306b\u3061\u3083\u3093 – the name of a Japanese textboard), then you\u2019re no stranger to \u540d\u7121\u3057\u3055\u3093 (\u306a\u306a\u3057\u3055\u3093 –\u00a0anonymous user). Don\u2019t confuse \u540d\u7121\u3057\u3055\u3093 for a ROM (\u308d\u3080-\u00a0read-only member), a person who reads website content, but doesn\u2019t make any comments or posts.<\/p>\n

\u30ba\u30c3\u53cb – Bff
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Have you ever been on Facebook or Instagram and seen a #bff or #friends4life tag or sticker? \u30ba\u30c3\u53cb (\u305a\u3063\u3068\u3082) is the same. \u30ba\u30c3\u53cb is a combination of \u305a\u3063\u3068 (forever) and \u53cb\u9054 (\u3068\u3082\u3060\u3061 –\u00a0friend), making it equivalent to (best) friends forever. A lot of girls use this in photos when tagging their friends. It\u2019s used frequently on social networking sites like Twitter as well.<\/p>\n

\u30aa\u30ef\u30b3\u30f3 – Out-of-date contents
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u30aa\u30ef\u30b3\u30f3 (\u304a\u308f\u3053\u3093) means \u201cout-of-date.\u201d It can refer to a trend (like an internet meme) that\u2019s no longer popular, or a person\/celebrity who’s dropped off the radar. \u30aa\u30ef\u30b3\u30f3 originally came from \u7d42\u308f\u3063\u305f\u30b3\u30f3\u30c6\u30f3\u30c4 (\u304a\u308f\u3063\u305f \u3053\u3093\u3066\u3093\u3064 –\u00a0out-of-date contents).<\/p>\n

If a dance parody is no longer popping up everywhere on YouTube or if everyone’s heartthrob<\/a> is no longer appearing in movies, then they’re probably \u30aa\u30ef\u30b3\u30f3.<\/p>\n

KY – A person who can’t read the mood
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

KY is an abbreviation of \u7a7a\u6c17\u8aad\u3081\u306a\u3044 (\u304f\u3046\u304d \u3088\u3081\u306a\u3044), which means someone who can\u2019t read the air or mood. Maybe someone keeps sending you \u30b8\u30e5\u30ea\u30a8\u30c3\u30c8\u30e1\u30fc\u30eb (\u3058\u3085\u308a\u3048\u3063\u3068 \u3081\u30fc\u308b –\u00a0love e-mail from a female) or \u30ed\u30df\u30aa\u30e1\u30fc\u30eb (\u308d\u307f\u304a\u3081\u30fc\u308b –\u00a0love e-mail from a male) even though you text back \u201ck\u201d or \u201cnot interested.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that case, that someone is a KY\u306a\u4eba (KY \u306a\u3072\u3068 –\u00a0a person who is KY). This phrase has spread from the internet; you may see it in manga\u00a0or it may even pop up in a few texts.<\/p>\n

\u30cb\u30b3\u53a8 – Nico Nico addict
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The video streaming website, Nico Nico (\u30cb\u30b3\u30cb\u30b3, \u00a0\u306b\u3053\u306b\u3053) is YouTube\u2019s cousin from overseas. What makes it either fantastically clever or unbearably annoying is that user comments are overlaid directly on top of a video, rather than below the video.<\/p>\n

A \u30cb\u30b3\u53a8 (\u306b\u3053\u3061\u3085\u3046) is a person who’s addicted to Nico Nico, or a “Nico Nico addict.” The word \u53a8 (\u3061\u3085\u3046) comes from \u4e2d\u6bd2\u8005 (\u3061\u3085\u3046\u3069\u304f\u3057\u3083 –\u00a0addict or junkie). When used alone, \u53a8 (\u3061\u3085\u3046) can mean, \u201csomeone who makes childish posts on online message boards.\u201d I\u2019ve seen it combined with a few other words like \u30b2\u30fc\u30e0\u53a8 (\u3052\u30fc\u3080 \u3061\u3085\u3046; gaming addict).<\/p>\n

Other Internet Words in Japanese<\/h2>\n