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:
In this week’s Japanese slang we study the term 天然ボケ tennen boke which literally means naturally stupid or airhead. Check out the video to see more examples.
This is the first in a new series of weekly short Japanese language videos we are making here at Learn Japanese Pod. This week’s one is バカップル or Bakappuru. The word is comprised of the kanji 馬鹿 (baka) which means stupid and the katakana for couple which is カップル hence バカップル. This isn’t incredibly rude but it might make your grandmother blush so use with care!
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:
誰に向かって物言ってんだよ?!
Dare ni mukatte, mono itten da yo
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.
誰に口きいとんじゃぼけ?!
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!