Yomi とうしゃひ Rōmaji toushahi Type slang Literal Meaning compared to the previous products/services of our company Meaning compared to one’s usual/old-self Additional Info It’s usually put at the end of a sentence with brackets (see examples below). In general contexts, it is used when companies advertise some positive change/improvement over their previous products/services. As slang, it also means “compared to one’s usual/old self” and is often used when you talk about some self-improvement/positive things you did while clarifying that they are relative to you rather than absolute. Example プラスチックの使用量を２０％削減（当社比） We reduced plastic consumption by 20% (compared to our previous products). 今日早起きした (当社比) I woke up early today (for me; earlier…Read More

Yomi すべる Rōmaji suberu Type slang Literal Meaning slip Meaning (one’s joke) fall flat and introduce a tumbleweed moment Antonym ウケる Additional Info There is a popular Japanese TV show called すべらない話 (“a story that does not slip”), where each participant (usually a comedian) talks about funny stories they have experienced. Example 冗談を言って完全にすべった I told a joke and it completely fell flat Related Post Interesting Japanese Words With Multiple MeaningsRead More

Yomi ぷーたろう Rōmaji pūtarou Type slang Meaning a jobless person (with no intention to work) Synonym ニート, 無職, 自宅警備員, ひきこもり, ヒッキー Additional Info Its origin is unknown, but here 太郎 is used as a representative name for Japanese men (like “Jack” in “Jack of all trades” in English). Similarly, 山田太郎 (Yamada Taro) is often used as an example name in a sample of application forms (for women, 山田花子 (Yamada Hanako) is often used). Nonetheless, today 太郎 and 花子 are no longer common names. Recently, ニート (from NEET: “Not in Education, Employment, or Training”) has been more commonly used to describe such people. Example 去年、プー太郎だった I was jobless last year.Read More

Yomi じたくけいびいん Rōmaji jitaku keibiin Type slang Literal Meaning a home security guard Meaning a jobless person (with no intention to work); hikikomori Synonym ニート, ひきこもり, 無職, プー太郎 Additional Info It is a very slang internet term used by some netizens to describe people who are jobless and always at home (or rather, their room in their parents’ house) as if protecting their house. Example 去年から自宅警備員をしている Since last year, I’ve been working as a “home security guard” (I’ve been jobless).Read More

Yomi きゅうりょうどろぼう Rōmaji kyuuryou dorobou Type idiom Literal Meaning salary thief Meaning people who do little work and are not worth their salary; an underworked and overpaid employee Additional Info It is a derogatory term and typically used by a condescending boss or employer. Example ちゃんと働け！この給料泥棒が！ Do your work, you “salary thief”!Read More