Japanese Street Slang

by Peter Constantine

Japanese Street Slang is the first and only exposé of the rough and ready, raw and down-dirty street language as it is used in Japan today. Here's how they really The hustlers and high rollers, the teens and Tokyo yuppies, the gangsters and their ladies of the night. Witty mini-essays trace the fascinating origins of many expressions and the rollicking example sentences reveal just how and where they may be heard.

Many of the expressions featured in this book are extremely potent. Beware of using them inadvertently—mass panic might ensue.

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

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Patrick Sherriff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fun reference book to the darker side of Japanese culture. My proper review and sample page is here: patricksherriff.com/2019/05/12/japane...

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting to read (even as someone who doesn't speak Japanese at all) as it tells a lot about Japanese culture. The low rating is because I couldn't finish reading it - it's made rather for always reading one chapter occasionally then read the whole book through in one (and that's what I was trying to do).

[Andrej · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite the book. not incredibly useful if someone started cursing you in japanese, but it does lay out the information in a remarkably levelheaded manner. the examples are the funniest part, as the sentences used must of course include the vulgarity. an interesting read for either learners of japanese in their 2nd year or beyond who would like to insult and impress their friends, or a crackhead in osaka who needs a fix fast.

[Asia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather interesting language guide in that it bypasses the typical formalities and instead endeavors to teach the more gritty aspects of Japanese vocabulary; territory most authors would not attempt to tread upon.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, this is another thing for the file of 'Weird Japanese Stuff'. I was kind of shocked over how vulgar it got in parts, although it was an amusing read.

It was an interesting look at some of the darker areas of Japanese culture, but not something that I'll use for my trip there.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you hear phrases or vocabulary from this book you are:
a) Watching a Japanese crime film.
b) With very close, probably male, friends who are drunk.
c) Hanging out in places you shouldn't be in.

And please don't use these with strangers! Published in the early '90s, it's a bit dated.

[Cullen! · Rating 3 out of 5]

learn up to 4 different ways to talk about tight vaginas!

[Alen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely one of the funniest books I've ever read.
it is simply so dirty that it becomes humorous in its absurdity.

[mirror · Rating 4 out of 5]

useful/interesting but surprisingly had several typos

[Kendra Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but I wish it had also included the Japanese script, not just the Romanization.

[m · Rating 3 out of 5]

not completely accurate and dated but you know. Funny.

[Tsuki-chan]

XD I always carry this book around with me BUT here is a quick warning, this book goes beyond potent! XD I've never seen the word cunt so many times in my life, but it comes in handy when I'm talking to my boyfriend lol >.>"

[Butsuri]

Japanese