100 Swearing and Swearing in Japanese

In this article, we are going to share swear words in Japanese, called in the language of warui kotoba [悪い言葉]. You will learn name-calling, slang, insults and other bad things in the Japanese language. Hope you like the article.

It is worth making it clear that most of the expletives in Japanese, do not have their translation literally offensive. Most of the time the Japanese insult each other with pronouns and other words that for the Portuguese language can be harmless.

Warui Kotoba - Swearing in Japanese

In Japan it is not customary to speak slang of sexual connotation in public, nor profanity of this type, there are some cases and diversities, but the profanity we know here are not used in Japan in a common way.

People often translate these swear words and insults into Japanese incorrectly, making it seem that a certain word is equivalent to something immoral or offensive in English. Hardly a Japanese word will be like this, but it can have the same impact.

We noticed, that they translate things that have nothing to do with Fuck or Fuck. I remember watching an episode of No Game No Life and the protagonist says: dameda [ダメだ] which means Useless, and the fansub subtitled it as fucked up.

It is worth mentioning that, yes, there are taboo words with sexual connotations, offensive and terrible, but they are not commonly used to insult others. Warui Kotoba [悪い言葉] is a common term for bad words, but it is not the only term, or the most used.

I made a video explaining more about Japanese swear words and their pronunciations and meanings:

Bubetsu - Insult - Scornful Words

There is a Japanese word called “bubetsu” [侮蔑] which can be literally translated as contempt or insult. Unlike “warui kotoba”, the word bubetsu is not just limited to words or attitudes, but also to derogatory feelings and their intent.

In fact, bubetsu is a standard term for the many synonyms and phenomenological forms of contempt that we will list below. In addition to swearing, you will learn the different categories of insult in Japanese:

Japanese	Romaji	Meanings
悪態	akutai	abusive language
悪口	waruguchi	Slander, speak ill
罵倒	hit	Defamation, Verbal abuse, disparagement
卑罵	hiba	pejorative, derogatory word
憎まれ口	nikumareguchi	abusive language
雑言	zoogon	foul language
そしり	soshiri	Criticism, censorship, disparagement
ののしり	nonoshiri	curse, insult
皮肉	hiniku	Irony, sarcasm, cynicism, satire
あだ名	Fluente	Surname
侮辱語	bujoku-go	Insult
蔑視語	besshi-go	contempt, disdain
毒舌	dokuzetsu	perverse language
罵詈	bari	abusive language
罵倒	batō	Denunciation, depreciation, defamation
揶揄	yayu	joke, teasing
非難	hinan	Criticism, blame, censure, attack
皮肉	hiniku	Irony, sarcasm, cynicism, satire
風刺	fūshi	satire; irony; sarcasm
陰口	kageguchi	Malicious gossip; slander; talking behind someone's back

In Japanese, many synonyms were generated when ideograms were imported and evolved over time, this gave rise to dozens of types of contempt and insults shown above and also to many synonyms and variations of swear words.

In the past, there were Japanese poems and decapitations in the Nara and Heian eras that applied the rhetorical technique of Kanji to insult. Things are not limited to words alone, some people often create hidden puns or use sarcastic spelling errors.

Higo - Vulgar and Pejorative Swearing

When it comes to swear words or bad words, the term Higo [卑語] can be used to categorize abusive words that should be avoided in public. Some words are commonly used in insults, while others are quite underground.

Words in this category most often refer to slang for genitals, intercourse, excrement, semen, buttocks, breasts, and other related words. You may be interested in reading the article on sexual words. See some:

We recommend reading: Japanese vocabulary and sex phrases

Swear words related to Genitalia

Below are some words related to genitals that can be used to insult others in Japanese:

• Chin Chin [ちんちん] - Penís;
• Kintama [金玉] - balls;
• Bobo [ぼぼ] - pussy, sex (Kyoto dialect);
• Ketsu [ケツ] - ass, buttocks;
• Ketusnoana [ケツの穴] - ass;
• Chikubi [乳首] - nipples;
• Oppai [おっぱい] - boobs, boobs;
• Paipai [ぱいぱい] - breasts, nipples;
• Oshikko [おしっこ] - penis;
• Ochinchin [おちんちん] - penis;
• Chinko [ちんこ] - penis;
• Chinpo [チンポ] - penis;
• Pokochin [ポコチン] - penis;
• Oppai [おっぱい] - breasts, tits;
• Tamatama [たまたま] - testicles;
• Manko [まんこ] - vagina, pussy;

Not all the words mentioned above are derogatory, they may just be slang or terms referring to genitals. But the mere fact of talking about genitals in public depending on the situation can be despicable.

Swear Words Related to Fucking

It is uncommon to use expressions related to sex in Japanese vocabulary, but there are expressions that represent sexual intercourse, fucking, eating and the like. The expressions below usually mean the same thing:

• Okasu [犯す] - Deflower, rape, violate, commit, perpetrate
• Komasu [こます] - Make, give, eat, fuck;
• Itekomasu [いてこます] - Attack, punch, fuck;
• Kamawohoru [かまをほる] - Fuck the ass, fuck anal, sodomize;

Swearing and Dirty Words

Below we are going to see some dirty Japanese words, things like excrement, turd, feces, etc. The words below are the most common, some will go into another category further down.

• Kuso [糞] - Shit, Damn;
• Kusotare [クソタレ] - Shit yourself;
• Unko [うんこ] - Shit, market, poop;
• Shikko [しっこ] - Pee, urine;

Other ways to insult with higo

It is also common in the “higo” category to use words that convey some pejorative idea. Words related to appearance, constitution, function and countless others. Calling people thieves and bums also fits the "higo".

One way to insult people with “higo” is to merge these swear words with other swear words or even with the name of the person you want to insult. For example: Benimanko, Kintamani and Unkorosai. Some will be seen throughout the article.

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Swearing and Swearing in Japanese

Now let's look at some of these insults and swearing in Japanese, as well as other words that have a negative effect on conversations. Most Japanese insults or the like are made up of more than one word.

Cursing Appearance in Japanese

The list of swear words below is related to the person's appearance:

• Busu [ブス] - Ugly (used more in women);
• Busaiku [ 不細工] - Clumsy, ugly;
• Ketou [毛等] - People with different hair colors or people from abroad;
• Gaki [ ガキ] - Shorty, Bratty;
• Chibi [ちび] - Small, short (often affectionate);
• Bakemono [化け物] - Monster, horrible thing;
• Debu [デブ] - You Pig, Filthy, Fat;
• Kitanai [汚い] - Dirty;
• Akuma [悪魔] - Demon, evil;
• Oni [鬼] - Ogre;
• Majyo [魔女] - Witch;
• Obake [おばけ] - Monster, ghost, goblin;
• Deka [デカ] - Great;
• Routai [老体] - Body Old;
• Miira [ミイラ] - Mummy, corpse;
• Taikobara [太鼓腹] - Taiko belly (drum);

Animal Swearing in Japanese

It is common to curse others with animal names to describe a certain appearance or personality, see some below:

• Buta [豚] - Pork (used in fatty);
• Kaba [カバ] - Hippopotamus (referring to fat);
• Zako [雑魚] - Little fish;
• Tako [タコ] - Fearful, Coward (referring to the octopus);
• Yajyuu [野獣] - wild beast, wild beast;
• Gorira [ゴリラ] - Gorilla (someone wild, violent and large);
• Saru [さる] - Monkey (person attacked);
• Koumori [蝙蝠] - Bat (opportunist, turncoat);
• Uma [馬] - Horse;

Swearing Adjectives and Characteristics

Below we will see some Japanese swear words and swear words that are adjectives, or present some characteristic of the person, such as occupation, animal appearance or the person's manner. Words related to intelligence are excluded.

• Hentai [変態] - Pervert, sex maniac;
• Boke [ボケ] - Lazy, tapir, vagabond;
• Okama [おかま] - Faggot, Baitola, Boiola, Gay;
• Kichigai [キチガイ] - Crazy, retarded, stupid;
• Kechi [けち] - Petty, cow hand, murrinha;
• Dokechi [どけち] - Augmentative of petty;
• Hidoi(i) [酷い] - Terrible, Horrible, Bad;
• Saitei(dayo) [最低] - Lesser, low, terrible, worse, unpleasant;
• Yariman [やりまん] - Whore, Girl - Sleep with anyone;
• Debesu [出べそ] - protruding navel;
• Amattare [あまったれ] - Spoiled, dependent, childish;
• Gomi [ゴミ] - Trash;
• Yarou [野郎] - Brat, bastard, idiot, asshole;
• Shounin [小人] - Small child, dwarf, narrow-minded;
• Piero [ピエロ] - Clown;
• Odokemono [戯け者] - Idiot, dummy, clown, cheater;

Insulting the person's intelligence in Japanese

There are a lot of cursing and profanity referring to the person's intelligence, so we decided to put it separately, see a list below:

• Baka [馬鹿] - idiot, dumb, stupid, fool, clown, silly, goofy and the like;
• Otankonasu [おたんこなす] - Idiot, fool, bird brain;
• Aho [あほ] - Stupid;
• Kusottare [クソッタレ] - Idiot (asshole);
• Manuke [間抜け] - Nuance of a silly, idiot, retarded person;
• Heta(kuso) [下手糞] - Clumsy, awkward, good-for-nothing, useless.
• Doji [どじ] - screw up; awkwardly; damaged;
• Bontsuke [ぽんつく] - Stupid idiot;
• Roba [驢馬] - Donkey, ass (lit. Ass);
• Usagiuma [兎馬] - Donkey (lit. rabbit + horse);
• Arokamono [愚か者] - Fool;
• Funeke [腑抜け] - Idiot, coward;
• Gubetsu [愚物] - Idiot, fool;
• Oko [おこ] - Stupidity;

Insults that are commands and actions

The words below are commands, you are telling the person to do a certain action, they are usually verbs. Enjoy:

• Damatte [黙って] - The Kanji 黙 means silence, be quiet or shut up;
• Damare [黙れ] - Alternative to "damatte", can be used in both the extension "yo" [よ];
• Shine [死ね] - Die;
• Urusai [うるさい] - Noisy, shut up;
• Ikke-nai [ne] [いっけ-ない] - Drug, don't fuck (lit. Don't go, don't do this);
• Kusokurae [糞食らえ] - screw-it!
• Kutabare [くたばれ] - Suma daqui, Die, fuck;
• Deteike [出て行け] - Get out of here, get out, get out;
• Bakanisuruna [ばかにするな] - Don't make a fool of me;
• Hikome [ひっこめ] - Withdraw, get out, come back;
• Namekusatte [なめくさって] - Lick!

Other Swearing in Japanese

The Japanese swear words below didn't fit into any of the previous categories, but they are quite popular:

• Konchikushou [こん畜生] - Holy shit, motherfucker, bastard;
• Kusomajime [クソ真面目] - Overly serious, humorless, dull;
• Kimochi warui [気持ち悪い] - Disgusting, horrible, disgusting, unpleasant (Literally, bad feeling.)
• Chikushou [畜生] - (It's an expression of revolt for a circumstance) What the hell!, What the fuck! Look what the fuck!
• Baka Bakashii [ 馬鹿馬鹿しい] - Absurd, ridiculous, madness;
• Nantehetakuso [なんてへたくそ] - What the hell, what the fuck;

Remember if! Never learn Japanese by studying single words. If you are confused on the correct order or way to study the Japanese language. We recommend reading our: Study Guide for Learning Japanese.

Derogatory Suffixes and Prefixes in Japanese

Another way of insulting and cursing people is by using honorific prefixes and suffixes that convey the idea of insulting or derogatory. They are often used before or after a swear word, or even a person's name. See a list of them below:

• Ike [いけ] – prefix used to strengthen a derogatory adjective;
• Ikke [いっけ] - same thing as ike, stronger;
• Me [奴] - Derogatory suffix meaning drug and bastard;
• Kou [公] – Suffix that can become derogatory after a name;
• Suke [すけ] - Pejorative suffix;
• Kuso [クソ] e Kusare [くされ] - Can be used as suffix and prefix of shit;

Do [ど] or Don [どん] are also used as a prefix to reinforce some insult. See some examples below:

• Dobeta [ど下手] - Very unskilled;
• Doinaka [ど田舎] - Peasant;
• Donbyakushou [どん百姓] - Poor Farmer;

In addition, we can use level prefixes to deprecate something: [二級][下等][三流][平];

Understanding Japanese swear words

We can see that Japanese insults when translating do not have a correct meaning, they can mean several words in English, we also notice the use of additions and modifications of words, as in the case of different forms of insult that use the word ばか (baka).

だよ - Dayo - Few examples were mentioned here, but many insults end with the word Dayo, to confirm, emphasize and increase the insult. Dayo is one of the forms of the verb "to be."

It is also common to mix other insults to enhance them, such as in the case of Baka + Aho / Baka + Yaro / Baka + Mono. It is possible to use them even as a prefix or suffix in names.

It is also worth remembering that profanity and some insults can be written in Katakana, as in the case of バカ, in addition to being often seen in katakana in manga and books, to cause a strong and special effect.

There are also insults using the very term "You" as in the case of "kisama, temee" which means you, but depending on the tone of voice or the region, this can be an insult.

We also have another article that talks about swearing in Japanese anime. In this article you will learn in detail about the main words heard in anime such as: "kuso, uzai, chikushou, baka, aho, yatsu, shinee, debu, nanda, temee".

We recommend reading: Slang, profanity, Insults and vulgarities in anime

Japanese slang

Mendokusai – It means something like: what a pain, how sick, uncomfortable, tiring, boring, irritating, difficult, problematic, laborious and others. This word can be used in different situations, both as an insult and as an expression of irritation.

Mukatsuku – It means Annoying! This is Japanese slang that you can use in a sentence or by itself when you want to complain about something or someone that is getting in your way!

Kimoi - A shortened version of "kimochi warui", which means disgusting or disgusted. If something bothers you, a simple "Kimoi!" enough to show your revulsion! This can be used to describe someone or something's actions as well as appearance.

See too: What does kimochi really mean in Japanese

Dasai – Means ugly, lame, or old-fashioned. It can be used to describe appearances and actions. If someone is completely reckless, you can say they are “dasai" and if you're wearing horrible clothes, you can also say "dasai".

Bimyō [微妙] – Means questionable or uncertain. You can use the word bimyō to describe something that is neither good nor bad, however it is generally used to describe the bad.

Majide – Does it mean something like serious? True? Really? Also expressions like chō or metcha can be used in different occasions. If you want to know more Japanese slang, what do you think about visiting the famous Yabai.

See too: Do you know what Yabai means?

insulting phrases in japanese

To end the article, we will also see some phrases, questions and answers that can become insults. Realize that there are different ways to say such phrases, and remember that the phrases below must be pronounced in a strong way, otherwise they will be normal phrases, and not insults.

Rōmaji	KANJI / KANA	HIRAGANA	TRANSLATION
Nanda-yo?/ Nani-yo?/	何だよ?	なんだよ	What is yours? What was it? (Used in times of anger, with an authoritative tone.)
Namen jyaneyo		なめんじゃねよ	Literally e: Don't lick me, but I mean, don't underestimate me, don't falter, don't step on the ball.
What did he say? / What did she say?	なんて言ったんだよ?	なんていったんだよ	What did you say?
I won't joke around! / Don't joke around!		ふざけないでよ!	Stop acting stupid! Do not underestimate me!
Baka yamete I [quit it, stop it, do it]		ばかやめてよ	Stop being stupid.
Baka iwanai deyo! / Baka ittenna yo!	バカ言わないでよ!	くそ	Don't say stupid things!
Kakko tsukenna yo		かっこ付けんなよ	Don't try to be cool / Stop being show off.
Bukkoroshite yaru!	ぶっ殺してやる	ぶっころしてやる	I'll end with you. (Literally: I will beat you to death.)
Kono yaro!		このやろ	I'll get you, you miserable... [says this before punching someone].
Eraso ni suruna yo!	偉そうにするなよ	えらそにするなよ！	Don't be so cocky!
Nani sama no tsumori?	何様のつもり	なにさまのつもり	Who do you think you are?
Keri wo tsuke yoze!		けりをつけようぜ	Let's get this over with.
Why did you do that?	何でそんなことしたの	きたない	Why did you do that?

Other Ways to Swear in Japanese

One way to insult is using metaphors, we can call the person with the name of low-value objects like garbage, feces, shit and others. It is common for the Japanese to also insult with names of animals, fruits and other objects that may have some characteristic.

The Japanese also like to belittle another person using words of honor. By implication, we can use good and magnificent words to give honor exaggeratedly and sarcastically.

Others use their own spelling or mispronouncement on purpose to mix up or create some sarcastic insult. In fact, there are thousands of ways to insult people in Japanese. Over time we will update you!

I hope you enjoyed this list of swearing and swearing in Japanese. We recommend reading our article that talks in detail about one of the most used swear words in the Japanese language.

Also read: What does Baka mean in Japanese?

If you liked the article share it and leave your comments. To finish the article I will leave some videos about swearing in Japanese for you to listen and learn.