This is a compilation of every single word/phrase of Ijeong-speak that I’ve encountered so far, and my choice of translations are an attempt to make him sound as eccentrically enthusiastic as possible.
This is mostly for self-reference so that I maintain consistency, but here is a (non-exhaustive) list of odd Japanese words and phrases that Ijeong uses. He’s picked them up from his aunt’s friend. All of them originate from different points in history, and they’re used by people of different walks of life. I’ve also noted all the details down here, found through my own research. (Note: Incomplete entries are from unreleased translations, and will be filled in before the related translations are released.)
Whatever it is, almost all of the slangs here are obsolete and barely used today, if ever, which makes him come across as strange. Ijeong-ya…why. Just why.
| Japanese (romaji) | Origin & Era | English Translation |
| アオハル (aoharu) | An alternative reading of「青春」(seishun), meaning ‘time of adolescence’. Usually used as a poetic description of the days of youth. | Springtime (of life) |
| アゲミザワ (agemizawa) | Has a similar meaning to「テンションMAX」(tension MAX). Used by high school girls on social media. Prevalent in 2018. Now obsolete. | Hypey |
| あざまる (azamaru) | A variation of「あざっす」(azassu), meaning ‘thanks’. 「まる」(maru) means ‘circle’, and refers to the Japanese circle mark (〇). The equivalent in the Western context would be a tick (✓). Used by high school girls on social media. Prevalent in 2017-2018. Now obsolete. | Thanksies |
| うれしみ (ureshimi) | A variation of「うれしい」(happy), used to indicate a greater depth of happiness. Used by youngsters, and on social media. Prevalent in 2017-2018. Now obsolete. | (to be) Chuffed (at something); gay |
| オケマル (okemaru) | A variation of「オッケー」(okay). 「まる」(maru) means ‘circle’, and refers to the Japanese circle mark (〇). The equivalent in the Western context would be a tick (✓). Used by high school girls on social media. Prevalent in 2017-2018. Now obsolete. | Okies |
| オドロキ、モモノキ、サンショの木 (odoroki, momonoki, sanshonoki) | A nonsensical rhyming phrase used to express a state of extreme shock. Literally means ‘shock, peach tree, japanese pepper tree’. The source is unknown, but it was made popular by the film series 「男はつらいよ」(Otoko wa Tsurai yo). Prevalent in the 1980s. Now obsolete, but still occasionally used among people in their 40s to 50s. | Jumping Jehoshaphat |
| お疲れさまんさー (otsukaresamantha) | Goodman Workington | |
| おめでたス(omedetasu) | I can’t find much information of this, but it’s definitely a strange way of saying 「おめでとう」(omedetou). | Happy borth |
| オモロー (omoro) | Short for 「おもろい」(omoroi), which is, in turn, short for 「面白い」(omoshiroi), meaning ‘interesting’. So basically, yes, what English speakers would know as doge-speak. Its use both online and offline are still prevalent to this day. | Much interest such amaze, many wow, amazes |
| がっちゃんこ (gacchanko) | Office slang meaning ‘to combine multiple things into one’, originating from the onomatopoeia 「がっちゃん」(gacchan), imitating the sound made when stapling papers. Prevalent in the Showa era (1920s-1980s). Now only used by senior office workers. | To bundle (it) all together |
| ガッテン承知のスケ (gatten shouchi no suke) | A playful phrase combining the words 「合点」(gatten), meaning ‘understood’, and「承知」(shouchi), meaning ‘noted’, made to resemble the name of a person , as ‘~suke’ (the kanji usually being「助」or「介」) is a common suffix in male names. An exaggerated way of saying ‘got it’, or ‘leave it to me’. Prevalent in the 1950s. Now obsolete. | Okie of the dokies |
| ぐうかわ (guukawa) | Originated from the term 「ぐう畜」(guuchiku), on 2chan back in 2013, meaning ‘too irritated to make the sound「ぐう」(guu)‘ literally, ‘absolutely speechless with anger’ figuratively, and ‘damn this sh*t!’ verbally. Variations of guu-something were then born to mean too something for words. 「かわ」(kawa) is short for「かわいい」(kawaii), meaning cute, so guukawa means ‘too cute for words’. Its use online is still prevalent to this day. | Too adorbs for words |
| ゴイスー (goisuu) | A playful inversion of「すごい」(sugoi). Used by celebrities on variety TV shows. Prevalent in the 1980s. Now obsolete. | Noice |
| 最&高 (sai and kou) | A variation of「最&高」(saikou), meaning ‘the best’, originating from the singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s 2016 single of the same title. Used by youngsters on social media. Prevalent in the late 2010s. Now obsolete. | The. Best. |
| シクヨロ (shikuyoro) | A playful inversion of「よろしく」(yoroshiku). Used by celebrities on variety TV shows. Prevalent in the 1980s. Now obsolete. | Much obliged |
| ちな (china) | A shortened form of「ちなみに」(chinami ni), or ‘by the way’. As the word is considered online slang, it often isn’t understood or perceived as making sense when spoken. Its use online is still prevalent to this day. | BTW |
| ちょびっと (chobitto) | A variation of「ちょっと」(chotto), meaning ‘just a little’. Although the phrase itself isn’t outdated, its use was never prevalent. | Just a lil’ |
| チョベリグ (choberigu) | A shortened form of 「超ベリグッド」(chou very good), meaning ‘super very good’. Prevalent in the mid-1990s. Now obsolete. | Super duper good/nice |
| てんてこマイマイ (tenteko maimai) | A warped variation of 「天手古舞」(tente komai). While the original meaning is to dance to the sound of traditional taiko drums, it evolved into a metaphor for hurrying around in a busy panic without rest. Although not a slang by any certain group of people in actuality, Ijeong (or whoever he’s learnt this from) has turned the phrase into something playful to speak. As a result, it exists nowhere in real life. | Hectic flurry |
| ドキワク (dokiwaku) | 「ドキドキ」(dokidoki) means ‘heart-pounding’, and 「ワクワク」(wakuwaku) refers to being in a state of excitement. Put together, the phrase dokiwaku probably means ‘heart-pounding excitement’. I say probably, because I can’t find any information on it as a slang term. However, the inversion of the phrase,「ワクドキ」(wakudoki) does exist as a now-obsolete phrase. I can’t find much information on when it was popular, but it was considered obsolete by 2011. Incidentally, searching for ‘dokiwaku’ only gave a series of pachinko chain stores by the name of Dokiwaku Land. I wouldn’t be surprised if the reason Ijeong says dokiwaku instead of wakudoki is that his aunt’s friend plays pachinko, though. | Excites |
| ナカーマ (nakaama) | The word「仲間」(nakama), meaning ‘buddies’, but with an accent. An online slang that often accompanies kaomoji. Example: ( ・ω・)人(・ω・ )ﾅｶｰﾏ Prevalent in the 1990s. Despite it still being used somewhat often today, it has also often been accused of being outdated. | Buddys |
| ナルナル (narunaru) | I sees | |
| ねむたん (nemutan) | A variation of「ねむい」(nemui), meaning ‘sleepy’. Used by youngsters on social media. Prevalent in 2010. Now obsolete. Also see the entry on「やばたん」(yabatan). | Mad tired |
| バイビー (baibii) | A shortened form of「バイバイ」(baibai), or bye-bye. Prevalent in the 1980s. Previously obsolete, it has been revived as a rarely-heard slang used by gyarus. | I’m out |
| バッチグー (bacchiguu) | Fantabulous | |
| パーペキ (paapeki) | Perfexcellent | |
| ピカイチ (pikaichi) | A portmanteau of the word 「ピカピカ」(pikapika), meaning ‘sparkling’ and 「一番」(ichiban), meaning ‘the best’. Prevalent in the 1960s. Now obsolete. | Top-notch |
| ピッタシ (pittashi) | A variation of「ぴったり」(pittari), meaning ‘to fit perfectly’. Originated from the quiz show series 「ぴったし カン・カン」(Pittashi Kan・Kan) that aired in the 70s and 80s. Used by youngsters. Prevalent in the 1980s. | To a T |
| マブイ関係, マブダチ (mabui kankei, mabudachi) | 「マブダチ」(mabudachi) is a portmanteau of the word 「マブイ」(mabui), meaning ‘good and genuine’ and 「ともだち」(tomodachi), meaning ‘friend’. Used among the Japanese yankees, before spreading to the mainstream population. Prevalent in the 1970s-1980s. Now obsolete. 「マブイ関係」(mabui kankei) is entirely Ijeong speak, meaning ‘a good and genuine relationship’, but no such term actually exists in Japan. ※A more accurate translation to English would be ‘Best Bros’ or ‘Best Pals’, I suppose, although ‘Besties’ was more in line with Ijeong’s character. | (to be) Besties |
| めちゃんこ (mechanko) | A variation of「めっちゃ」(meccha), meaning ‘very’. Originally Nagoya dialect, the word became popular as a slang due to its frequent use by the protagonist, Arale, of Toriyama Akira’s manga series ‘Dr. Slump’. Prevalent in the 1980s. Now obsolete. | Awfully |
| モチのロン (mochi no ron), モチのロンロン (mochi no ron ron) | An excessive way of saying 「もちろん」(mochiron), meaning ‘of course’. Used in daily conversation to express confidence, or by older men/bosses when they want to appear friendly with their subordinates while keeping their distance. Prevalent in the Showa period (1926-1989). Now obsolete. | Of-to-the-course, of-to-the-coursies |
| レッツラゴー (lettsura go) | Yeet | |
| やばたん, ヤバたん(yabatan) | A variation of「やばい」(yabai). Used by youngsters on social media. Prevalent in 2010. Now obsolete. | Mad sick, mad nasty |
| よきだネ (yokidane) | A variation of「いいね」(iine). Used by teenagers on social media. Prevalent in 2016. Now obsolete. | How swell |
| ヨロタノ, よろたの (yorotano) | A shortened form of「よろしくたのむ」(yoroshiku tanomu), meaning ‘I’ll be counting on you’ or ‘nice to meet you’. | Bestest regards, nice t’meecha, leave it t’ya |
Stamff's Wind Boys! Translations! 