Verb expressions that are a mixture of English and Japanese

2024/02/08

These words give off a frivolous impression, so you can’t use them in serious situations, but if you use them with close colleagues or friends, they may bring you closer together and make communication more enjoyable.

Teacher YUKI wrote this article

Qualifications:Completed 420-hour Japanese language teacher training course
I started my career at a Japanese language school in Bolivia and have been teaching at Nihongo online school since 2019.

Experience:I myself am interested in foreign cultures and languages, so I find it very stimulating to meet students from different backgrounds and share lesson time with them.
I am always happy when students are able to express themselves well in the Japanese they have just learned, and I feel happy to be teaching.

“パニクる(Panikuru)”

“ググる(Guguru)”

These are Japanese verbs, but do you know what this expression means?

The answer is “to panic” and the  other one is “search on Google”.

　

If you have lived in Japan for many years, you have probably heard Japanese people use these words in their daily lives.

These words have been converted into Japanese verbs, and have been used as if it was Japanese words.

Here we introduce 11 other such words.

It is often used especially in conversations between young people and close friends, so if you master it and try using it, you might impress Japanese people.

1.ミスる(Misu-ru)to make a mistake.

【Example】

今日プレゼンでミスった kyō purezen de misutta

 – I made a mistake in the presentation today.

2.ダブる(Dabu-ru): Something that overlaps twice,  or two events that occur at the same time.

【Example】山田さんと質問がダブった yamada san to shitsumon ga dabutta

  – I had the same question as Mr. Yamada.

3.トラブる(torabu-ru): To fall into trouble.

【Example】A社とトラブった A-sya to torabutta

  -I had a problem with company A.

4.デコる(Deko-ru): Decorate.

【Example】鞄をかわいくデコる kaban o kawaiku dekoru

  – Decorate your bag in a cute way.

5.アピる(Api-ru): To appeal.

【Example】手をあげて居場所をアピる te o agete ibasyo o apiru

  – Raise your hand and appeal whereI am

6.ハモる(Hamo-ru): Two sounds overlap, giving the impression of a harmony being played.

【Example】 鈴木さんと田中さんの返事がハモった suzuki san to tanaka san no henji ga hamotta

  -Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Tanaka responded at the same time as if playing harmony.

7.メモる(Memo-ru):To take notes.

【Example】大事なことはメモってね daijinakoto wa memottene

  – Take note of important things.

8.ディスる(Disu-ru): To say something bad about something or a person.

【Example】 他社の製品をディスる tasya no seihin o disuru

  -Acts of dissing other companies’ products

9.コピる(Kopi-ru):To copy. 

【Example】このフレーズは便利だからコピっておこう konohurēzu wa benri dakara kopitteokō

  – This phrase is useful, so let’s copy it.

10.バグる(Bagu-ru): A malfunction caused by a bug.

【Example】コンピューターがバグって使えない　konpyūtā ga bagutte tsukaenai

  – My computer is buggy and I can’t use it.

11.タクる(Taku-ru):To take a taxi.

【Example】今日は遅いからたタクって帰ろう kyō wa osoi kara takutte kaerō

  – It’s late today, so let’s take a taxi home.

Was there any expression that caught your interest?

These words give off a frivolous impression, so you can’t use them in serious situations, but if you use them with close colleagues or friends, they may bring you closer together and make communication more enjoyable.