2021 Japanese Buzzwords
What is a buzzword?
What is 流行語大賞?
Do you know any of the most popular buzzwords from 2021?
リアル二刀流 / ショータイム
Q: When do we usually say: “It’s showtime”
Double Threat = person or thing that’s strong / dangerous at 2 things
used in sports / performers / animals / business
Example:
Ayumu Hirano is a double threat. He competes in the Summer and Winter Olympics
Hugh Jackman is a triple threat.
Have you heard the song?
What’s it about?
でも遊び足りない 何か足りない
困っちまうこれは誰かのせい
あてもなくただ混乱するエイデイ
最新の流行は当然の把握
経済の動向も通勤時チェック
純情な精神で入社しワーク
社会人じゃ当然のルールです
はぁ？うっせぇうっせぇうっせぇわ
あなたが思うより健康です
一切合切凡庸な
あなたじゃ分からないかもね
嗚呼よく似合う
その可もなく不可もないメロディー
うっせぇうっせぇうっせぇわ
頭の出来が違うので問題はナシBut I’m not having enough fun, something is missing
These troubles better be somebody’s fault
I’m just confused errday
Well, is that so?
Understanding the latest trends
Checking stock market on my way to work
Joining a company with pure spirit
These are the obvious rules for us workers
Huh?? Shut up, shut up, shut up!
I’m healthier than you think
You are too mediocre to
Understand me, perhaps
Ah, you are so perfect match to
Those ordinary melodies of yours
Shut up, shut up, shut up!
I deal things differently so no problem at all!
NFT
What is an NFT?
推し活 = Fan life
What do serious fans do to support their favourite celebrity?
concerts
goods
clothes
collaborations
親ガチャ
What does this mean?
Can we put other words before “Gacha?”
Parent Lottery
Squid Game = イカゲーム
This wasn’t in the final top 10 but it was number 1 among high school students.
Have you seen this show? Why do you think it was so popular?
In the UK it was rated as over 15
In the US it was rated as over 17
ぼったくり男爵
Why was IOC President, Thomas Bach, called this?
It is based on a Washington Post writer who gave him the nickname “Baron Von Ripperoff” (ぼったくり だんしゃく)
Rip Off (noun, slang) = ぼったくり
フェムテック = Fem Tech
Can you give any examples of this?
Chikan Radar ( 痴漢レーダー)
A Pervert Radar app was released to help young women. Users can send out an SOS signal with their location, as well as describe the nature of the harassment and the description of the harasser.
マリトッツォ = maritozzo
黙食 (もくしょく)
What’s this?
How do you, your friends or coworkers feel about this new eating rule?
路上飲み (ろじょうのみ)
My friends called this “道端ビール”
Have you done this before?
Why did this become popular this year?
副反応 (ふくはんのう)
What side effects did you have after your vaccination?
Do you know anyone who had serious side effects?
Sources:
https://japantoday.com/category/national/nominations-revealed-for-japan’s-2021-new-words-and-buzzwords-awards
https://unseenjapan.com/japanese-buzzwords-slang-2021/