Japanese
10 Japanese swear words you'll actually hear
A traveller's shortlist of Japanese expletives, insults and exclamations — what they mean, and how strong they are.
Every language swears differently. This guide collects 10 Japanese expressions you're genuinely likely to hear — from mild exclamations to properly strong stuff — and explains what each one actually means, not just its dictionary translation.
Burn Ratings are an approximate, cross-language heuristic. Context, region, tone and who's speaking all change how a word lands. Treat these as a guide, not gospel.
- 1
- 2しまった 1/5 · Mild
shimatta
Exclamation on a mistake: damn, oh no. Often not considered profanity.
Full entry → - 3アホ 2/5 · Coarse
aho
Literally “fool”. Insult meaning idiot or fool. Regional and relationship differences matter, including Kansai usage.
Full entry → - 4お前馬鹿か 2/5 · Coarse
omae baka ka
Literally “are you stupid”. Rhetorical insult questioning someone's intelligence. Source attests the fuller address.
Full entry → - 5ガキ 2/5 · Coarse
gaki
Literally “brat”. Rude word for a child. Can be familiar rather than hostile.
Full entry → - 6
- 7
- 8あの野郎 3/5 · Vulgar
ano yarō
Literally “that fellow”. Hostile reference: that bastard. Yarō is derogatory in this context.
Full entry → - 9うるせえ 3/5 · Vulgar
urusee
Literally “noisy”. Rude complaint often functioning as shut up. Rough form of urusai.
Full entry → - 10カス 3/5 · Vulgar
kasu
Literally “dregs”. Insult treating someone as worthless. Literal residue sense is neutral.
Full entry →