コミュ障 (komyushou): ‘Suck at Communication’ in Japanese Slang

Pronunciation

Definition

コミュ障 (こみゅしょう, komyu shou) is a slang word that describes those who suck at communication. Although being an abbreviation of ‘コミュニケーション障害しょうがい (communication disorder)’, it describes a person with poor social skill, not the actual disability. For instance, you are regarded as コミュ障 if you are very awkward at starting a conversation, or if you are often isolated in a social event and end up checking your smartphone meticulously to pretend that you are tied up with something. Although the word itself is a derogatory term, it is often used to describe oneself in a self-deprecating and somewhat exaggerated way, as in ‘おれコミュ障だから…’ meaning ‘Because I suck at communication…’. By the time when the COVID-19 crisis is over, chances are most people may end up being コミュ障, forgetting how to communicate with others in reality.

Related Word 人見知り (ひとみしり, hitomishiri)

人見知り (ひとみしり, hitomishiri) is a more general and less negative word than コミュ障, which means ‘feel shy or nervous when talking with someone whom you meet for the first time, or  whom you have known only for a short period of time’. This word is also often used to describe one’s personality.

Example Sentences

(1) 昨日きのうパーティー行いったけど、コミュ障だから誰だれとも話はなせなかった
I went to the party yesterday, but because I’m コミュ障 (sh*t at communication) I couldn’t talk to anyone there.
(2) シェアハウスに住すむのはコミュ障には辛つらすぎる
It is too hard for コミュ障 (people who suck at communication) to live in a shared house

Synonyms

Synonyms: ぼっち (* see the link at the bottom)
Synonyms in English: shy, suck at communication, introvert, unsociable
Related words and phrases:

See also

ぼっち (Bocchi): Japanese Slang ‘Loner’