Hey guys! Let me tell you something that might surprise you: Japanese is not tough anymore!
With all the katakana words that Japanese people have borrowed from English, it’s way easier to express yourself than you think. No need to get all tangled up in kanji or complicated grammar rules—just sprinkle in a few katakana words, and you’re good to go. These are words I use all the time, and you’ll be using them too in no time!
1. サンキュー (Sankyū) – “Thank You”
Who needs to remember the full Japanese word for thank you—ありがとう (Arigatou)—when you can just say sankyū, right? It’s borrowed straight from the English “thank you,” and it’s super casual and easy to use.
- Origin: English “Thank You”
- Meaning: Casual, informal way to say “thank you”
- Example: サンキュー、助かった！(Sankyū, tasukatta!) — “Thanks, that really helped!”
2. ドンマイ (Donmai) – “Don’t Mind” or “Don’t Worry”
Now, if you want to comfort someone after they make a mistake, you might want to remember 気にしないで (Kinishinaide), which means “don’t worry.” But if you’re not feeling like remembering that, just say donmai! It’s an easy, casual way to say “don’t worry” or “no problem.”
- Origin: English “Don’t Mind”
- Meaning: Used to comfort someone, or say “don’t worry” after a mistake
- Example: 失敗してもドンマイ！(Shippai shitemo donmai!) — “Don’t worry about the mistake!”
3. アクション (Akushon) – “Action”
Okay, so if you’re talking about “action” in the context of a movie or something happening fast, you could use the original Japanese word 行動 (Kōdō). But akushon is way simpler and sounds much cooler!
- Origin: “Action” (from English)
- Meaning: Used to refer to action in the context of movies, games, or even a call to take action.
- Example: この映画はアクション満載だ！(Kono eiga wa akushon mansai da!) — “This movie is packed with action!”
4. バイバイ (Bai Bai) – “Bye Bye”
No need to remember さようなら (Sayōnara) when you can just go with bai bai, right? It’s a much more casual, friendly way to say goodbye in Japan, and you’ll hear it all the time.
- Origin: English “Bye Bye”
- Meaning: Casual way to say goodbye
- Example: じゃね、バイバイ！(Ja ne, bai bai!) — “See you, bye!”
5. ラッキー (Rakkī) – “Lucky”
Feeling lucky? You could use 運が良かった (Un ga yokatta), but let’s be real, rakkī is way more fun to say! It’s borrowed directly from English and is used when something good happens.
- Origin: English “Lucky”
- Meaning: Used to express good fortune or a stroke of luck
- Example: わー、ラッキー！(Wā, rakkī!) — “Wow, lucky!”
6. イライラ (Iraira) – “Irritate” or “Irritated”
If you’re feeling frustrated and want to express your irritation, you could try remembering 腹が立つ (Hara ga tatsu), which means to get angry. But let’s keep it simple—just use iraira! It’s an easy way to show when you’re annoyed or frustrated.
- Origin: English “Irritate”
- Meaning: Used to express frustration or annoyance
- Example: 今日はもうイライラする！(Kyō wa mō iraira suru!) — “I’m so irritated today!”
7. クール (Kūru) – “Cool”
Want to say someone is cool? Sure, you could go with 格好いい (Kakkoii), but if you’re not in the mood to remember that, just say kūru! It comes from the English word “cool” and is perfect for describing something stylish, impressive, or calm.
- Origin: English “Cool”
- Meaning: Describes something or someone stylish, impressive, or calm
- Example: あの人、クールだね。(Ano hito, kūru da ne.) — “That person is cool.”
But remember, kūru can also be used in a slightly negative context, like when someone’s acting aloof or distant, so be careful with how you use it!
8. ガッツ (Gattsu) – “Guts” or “Courage”
So you want to talk about someone having guts or courage? You could try 勇気 (Yūki), but honestly, gattsu is just easier!
- Origin: English “Guts”
- Meaning: Courage, strength, or determination
- Example: 彼はガッツがあるね！(Kare wa gattsu ga aru ne!) — “He’s got guts!”
9. トラブル (Toraburu) – “Trouble”
When you’re facing problems, you might be tempted to use the word 問題 (Mondai), but if you forget it, just say toraburu!
- Origin: English “Trouble”
- Meaning: Refers to problems or complications
- Example: あのプロジェクトでトラブルが発生した。(Ano purojekuto de toraburu ga hassei shita.) — “There was trouble in that project.”
10. リラックス (Rirakkusu) – “Relax”
If you’re feeling stressed and need to unwind, sure, you could say くつろぐ (Kutsurogu), but rirakkusu sounds so much better, right? It’s the Japanese version of “relax,” and it’s perfect for talking about chilling out or taking it easy.
Origin: English “Relax”
Meaning: To relax or unwind
Example: 今日はリラックスしよう。(Kyō wa rirakkusu shiyou.) — “Let’s relax today.”
Bonus: ショック (Shokku) – “Shock”
Last but not least, if you want to talk about something shocking or surprising, you could use the Japanese word 衝撃 (Shōgeki), but shokku works just fine! It’s borrowed from the English word “shock,” and it’s used when something catches you off guard.
- Origin: “Shock” (from English)
- Meaning: Refers to the feeling of shock or disbelief.
- Example: それは本当にショックだった！(Sore wa hontō ni shokku datta!) — “That was really shocking!”
So there you have it! Japanese doesn’t have to be tough or intimidating. These katakana words are borrowed from English, and they make everyday communication much easier. Use them, have fun with them, and you’ll sound super natural in no time.
Catch you guys in the next post! And if you’re ever feeling iraira, just take a deep breath, and remember—it’s all good, you’re just a little rakkī on your language-learning journey!
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