Dirty Japanese: Everyday Slang from

Dirty Languages

by Matt Fargo

GET D!RTY
Next time you’re traveling or just chattin’ in Japanese with your friends, drop the textbook formality and bust out with expressions they never teach you in school,

Cool slang
Funny insults
Explicit sex terms
Raw swear words

Dirty Japanese teaches the casual expressions heard every day on the streets of

What's up?
Ossu?

How's it hanging?
Choshi doyo?

I'm smashed.
Beron beron ni nattekita.

I love ginormous tits.
Kyo'nyu daiskui.

Wanna try a threesome?
Yatte miyo ka sanpi?

I gotta take a leak.
Shonben shite.

He's such an asshole.
Aitsu wa kanji warui kara.

Genres: Japanese Literature, Language, Reference, Japan, Nonfiction, Humor, Comedy

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2006

Reviews

[Praj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Double malt and prolonged use of Valium has taught me :-

1)- Never pay money for anything in a seriously inebriated state.
2)- Japanese sex is kinky and not their urban thesaurus.
3)- Phrases to memorize along with the courteous konichiwa , if I visit the Harajuku station or roam Dōtonbori avenue or picnic under a fully blossomed sakura tree:-

I’m new to Japan
(watashu wa nihon ni kita bakkari nandesu)

I only have three months to live.
(inochi wa ato sankagetsu shika nainda)

I’m still a virgin
(mada cheri dashu)

I never really understood the appeal of Japanese men until I saw you.
(nihon no otoko no hito no miyoku ga wakaranakatta, anata ni au made wa)

C’mon lets smoke some weed and shit.
(shiyouze happu suttari)


And, finally to give the “chillax” vibes after hours of guzzling ‘sake’ sing the drinking song- 'Papa Raccoon'

Ra-Ra raccoon ball, see them sway
Even on a mindless day,
And when Papa raccoon spied
These balls he laughed till he cried
And his own ball swung side to side.

For now, fuck(kuso!) the rendition in Japanese. I have overdosed on the bloody old Johnnie Walker yet again.

‘Scuse my shitty Japanese…..this book is a tough motherfucker!!
(nihongo ga hetakuso de suman…..kenka joto!!)

The Real Dirty Japanese Slang -"Kinbaku Ecchi" works all the time.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sitting at the local Izakaya we passed this book over to our twenty something waiter and his pals to review. A titter here and there, a raised eyebrow. After a while he gave it back to us and said flatly "Nah, nobody really uses words like that." Well fuckity.

Now its not a total loss, there are some funny curse words and slang in here, but be warned. The problem with this book is that the author gives you a false impression of how nasty Japanese curse words are. A clear example of this is found on page 97. "..._は頭にくるわ", ( real meaning "... makes me angry") is freely translated as "...get(s) my tits in a wringer". On page 95 practically the same phrase is interpreted as "...pisses me off." Both phrases are similar in that they mean being angry at something, but its the English that sounds nasty here not the Japanese.

This happens throughout the book leaving the reader with the wrong impression, that the original Japanese is as colorful as the authors's English swearing. Some of the Japanese curse words used here are pretty vanilla but its Fargo's ability to string together poetry out of words like spunk, shit and fuck that makes the Japanese seem dirtier than it is. Other stuff like 栗 kuri (chestnut) or 豆 mame (bean) as slang for clit... okay. Maybe its a Roppongi thing.

In his defense, Fargo tells us in the foreword that context in Japanese is everything. It should also be mentioned that delivery plays a huge part in making your Japanese sound nasty. That kind of thing is hard to convey on the written page.

Dirty Japanese is better used as a guide to understanding the dirty language words you hear than as a phrase book. Overall, not bad, just not entirely as advertised.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haha This Was So Fun

A blast of a language book.

I have been slowly teaching myself Japanese over the last couple years, and so this was a fun take on my normal lessons.

I learned a lot.
Some of these were so fun!

Would recommend for fellow Japanese language pupils.

4.3/5

[Aileon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book when I started learning Japanese. The reasons were:

a) I had a job and lots of money to spend in Amazon.
b) I wanted to learn the colloquial Japanese I'd have never got the guts to ask my teacher about.
c) It looked like a funny book.

All my expectations about point C were met. Yes, it was an entertaining book. And I laughed. But I can't say the same about point B (and now, let's forget that point A ever existed, ok?).

If any of you have ever studied something related to languages or linguistics, you'd probably know that languages aren't static but, like living beings, they're in constant evolution. My point is, I've read reviews on Amazon or even here that confirm what I was suspecting when I read this book some years ago: some of these expressions are outdated. So have that in mind if you're looking for self-learning book or if you're considering using them to get a Japanese girlfriend (or boyfriend!).

Nevertheless, if you only want to have some fun, let me tell you this: go for it!

[Adam Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how useful a lot of this will actually be; I don't foresee the need to ask where to find dope, or a good part of the drinking nonsense. While this book did help to clarify some of the terms I've come across, there were several points I found disagreeable, especially when the author starts bad mouthing elements of Japanese culture for no reason other than he needed to lengthen the page.

Good for learning some of the more obscure terms that you might come across (although many are probably completely unused), but I don't imagine much need for many of them. Interesting and fun to read, this book takes profanity to a whole new level; though it is hard to imagine anyone who'd be foolish enough to try spouting any of this language without having researched it elsewhere beforehand (several of the translations really had nothing to do with the phrase, several even differed between the romaji and kanji examples).

Great for a laugh, but not serious study material.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book gives a really good example of bad words and impolite responses that would put a "gaijin" (foreigner) in deep trouble,specially when used on older or higher ranking Japanese persons. This book is indeed a personal reference only as to how language in Japan can be heard everyday. But If your aim is to do business talk and impress people with your Nihongo fluency- read something that will give the basic and most polite way of speaking. Japanese has a high regard on speaking in full respect. This book will be more useful in making friends on the streets of Japan and enjoying yourself in a good conversation somewhere in a bar or somewhere not so formal. Of course- in getting yourself a gf or bf of your own this is quite helpful. Overall, because I have read this and have learned a lot swearing and dirty words from it, I think I should rate it 4stars. I am kinda happy with what I have learned. I will use it sometimes, maybe =)

[Ora · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alright book; it has some nice phrases but lacks the proper composition and it's hard to take it seriously.

[Jesus · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is only one reason I bought this book. Its on the title.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is great for shits and giggles. I've seen some of the phrases and words in manga and anime. (I guess I read / watch "dirty" stuff?) So I'd believe that SOME people talk like that. But since it's unlikely that I'll form a friendship close enough to use these words with a Japanese speaker, I'm only reading it to enhance my enjoyment of manga / anime / J-drama.

I laughed out loud the whole time, when the author made up a whole sex scene with dirty talk. Again, I'm unlikely to use it IRL, it's really for fucking around... But not that way.

[Katia Tosco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pas mal, j'ai pu retrouver beaucoup d'expressions que j'entends dans les animes et que je n'arrivais pas à comprendre. Les observations sur la vie quotidienne japonaise sont assez intéressantes et drôles, et sortent des clichés sur le Japon ; l'approche gros bourrin qui ne pense qu'à se mettre des cuites est parfois un peu lassante.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the slang terms were interesting, if not terribly useful. Also, many of the meanings or romaji were incorrect, so don't pick up this book if you're a complete beginner and don't read hiragana/katakana.

[Monnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as a joke from a friend when I started to learn Japanese. It's funny in a school kid kind of way and some parts of the book could be useful. Overall, there is not much here you would dare say to anyone in a normal situation. I can't see going to Tokyo and telling some random stranger "I've got serious eye gunk." or a gem like "I have a zit on my ass." Still, in a juvenile way the book is funny." I think if I was a teenager I'd get more use out of it because it has stuff like how to hit on people, descriptions about the variety of bodily functions, sex terms and ways to describe people you won't find in a traditional textbook.

[d · Rating 2 out of 5]

Observaciones por el momento y para el futuro:
a) Varias de las palabras relacionadas a prácticas sexuales son tomadas del inglés. Caso paradigmático kiss / キス (kisu).
b) Parece que la mejor forma de incorporar slang oral son las películas de yakuzas de Takashi Miike (Dios lo tenga en la gloria) y cualquier dorama.

Algunos ejemplos geniales, útiles e irrespetuosos a la gramática –

義理のお母さんは鬼婆だ。
(giri no okaasan wa onibaba da)
Mi suegra es el demonio.

あたしを 扱える男なんかいない。
(atashi o atsukaeru otoko nanka inai)
Ningún hombre me soporta.

今夜はメシ食って 寝る。
(Kon'ya wa, meshi kutte neru)
Esta noche como y me voy a dormir.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book of slang to take to Japan. What other book will tell you how to order the best of Japanese cuisine, identify a foot fetishist, or introduce yourself to your future Japanese friends in ways both formal and offensive?

[Will Proctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a fair amount of the book is scatalogical, there is enough that is not as well as enough that is socio-cultural commentary to make this a worthwhile read for folks who want to explore more natural and casual conversation with their CLOSE Japanese friends.

[Black Tea Lady ☕️📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checked with my current Japanese teacher at school, told me that a few words are accurate, some never heard of them before and others not in used.
I'm still checking at school but if you are a fan for anything Japanese or Japanese culture, you will like this book.

[Desi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish i had taken a japanese classs!

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

An hilarious guide to learning Japanese, while I wouldn't recommend using everything you've learned from this book. But some of it is usefull. A very entertaining method of learning Japanese

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written by misogynistic asshole. Apparently. Give this a pass.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I don't know that I actually learned any true "Japanese slang" from this book, it is fairly entertaining. It makes a better coffee table book than a language book.

[Carol Springwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm Japanese started teaching Japanese and recomended whis book by one of my student.
I quickly went through this book and realised some of the words were outdated. Not that Japanese people wouldn't understand what you are saying but some words are just too old-fashioned and sounds really funny that I couldn't stop laughing. There are plenty of phrases in there that are useful and not outdated yet but it might be hard for people who aren't living in Japan to justify them. Not to mention that some words can be really rude but that is kinda the point of this book anyway.
This book will be nice if you have been studying Japanese and want to learn some casual words and have some Japanese friends to tell you what we don't actually use in Japan. But not recomended if you are just starting to learn Japanese as this might confuses you.