In this week’s Slang from Japan we look at “胡散臭い” (usan kusai) which refers to something that is suspicious or unbelievable. This uses two words: 胡散 usan – which means suspicious and 臭い kusai – which means smelly. It almost literally means something that “smells fishy”. For example:
彼の言うこと、胡散臭いよね。
kare no iukoto, usan kusai yo ne
What he is saying is suspicious.
In this week’s Japanese slang video we learn “出来ちゃった結婚” or dekichatta kekkon. This refers to a marriage that happened due to an unwanted or accidental pregnancy. Check out the video for more examples and explanations.
This week’s slang lesson is: ど忘れ – dowasure – to completely forget
今日会議だった。ど忘れしてた
Kyou, kaigi datta. Dowasure shiteta.
There was a meeting today, I totally forgot.
Here’s a great video of Bill Murray teaching some angry Japanese that should probably be used with some restraint. The book he’s quoting from is Making out in Japanese. The phrase in question here is the following:
Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?
This phrase is in the Kanto or “standard” Japanese dialect therefore Learn Japanese Pod protocol dicates that I must also teach you the same phrase in Kansai dialect.
dare ni kuchi kiitonja boke?!
Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?! (Kansai dialect)
Please be careful when using these phrases. Learn Japanese Pod cannot be held liable for your ass getting kicked by a group of angry drunken salarymen!
