Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Curse Words in Japanese

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
14 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

When you study a foreign language, the first thing you usually learn are the “naughty” words — that’s just human nature. However, students of Japanese are often surprised to learn that most of the bad words they’re used to in English don’t map over very well. The most common Japanese insults include baka (BAH-kah, stupid), aho (ah-HO, the Osaka-ben version of the same word), and boke (BOH-kay, basically meaning “nim-wit”). Almost all the anatomical words you may be used to just don’t work in Japanese, nor does the “F” word, which doesn’t even exist, except occasionally in English as a foreign loan word. The most basic Japanese swear word is probably kuso (KOO-soh), the “S” word, yet it’s interesting to note that it’s not considered a bad word, as it’s used in children’s anime like Yu-Gi-Oh quite often and no one thinks anything of it. It addition to the primary meaning, the word kuso can also refer to various bodily products. The stuff that comes out of your nose is hana-kuso (nose-sh–), and ear wax is mimi-kuso (ear-sh–). The stuff that builds up in your eyes as you sleep is me-kuso (MEH-kuso), and plaque on your teeth is called ha-kuso. Now you know some interesting (and probably useless) Japanese vocabulary words!

The word kuso (“shit!”) is a common occurrence in anime and manga. and no one cares.

Tags: Japanese languagemanga

More Posts Like This

When The Subtitles Substitute Name For Onii Chan
Your Friend in Japan

Onii-chan, No! When Translators Don’t Follow Japanese Naming Conventions

by Peter Payne
7 months ago

How do you feel when you're watching anime and a character uses an honorific like "Onii-chan," but the subtitles use...

Japanese Is Similar To Spanish Blog
Your Friend in Japan

Why Is Japanese So Similar to Spanish? Let’s Compare Both Languages!

by Peter Payne
9 months ago

Everyone knows that Japanese is a hard language to learn, right? But I found it surprisingly easy, partly because it...

What Does Bitch Mean In Japanese

Bitch Means What in Japanese?? Nine Times Japan Changed the Meaning of Words

10 months ago
Shock! Manga Artists Who Also Created Hentai

Shock! 15 Famous Manga Artists Who Also Made Hentai

1 year ago
The State Of The Anime Industry 2023 Blog? New

What is the State of the Anime Industry in 2023?

1 year ago
Watashi No Shiawase No Kekkon

‘My Happy Marriage’ is a Serotonin Boost For Your Brain

2 years ago
Next Post
Obo5jv W

New Problem in Japan: Jishiku (Self Restraint)

Trending Today

Stellar Blade Cosplay
Featured

The Hottest Stellar Blade Cosplay—Just Before the PC Release

6 days ago
Yandere Dark Elf Episode 1 Featured Image
Featured

Yandere Dark Elf, Episode 1 — Love Heavier than Chocolate Melons!

2 months ago
The Top 11 Anime Sex Scenes Blog
Your Friend in Japan

Happy Sex Day! Let’s Rank the 11 Most Surprising Ecchi Scenes in Anime

1 week ago
The Top 10 Jav Actresses Article
Your Friend in Japan

The Top 10 JAV Actresses to Browse During J-List’s Sale!

4 days ago
Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
News

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime and Where to Watch Them

3 months ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Megami Magazine And The History Of Anime Poster Magazines
Your Friend in Japan

Anime Posters and Pantsu: How Megami Magazine Shaped 25 Years of Otaku Culture

by Peter Payne
June 16, 2025

Anime Posters and Pantsu: How Megami Magazine Shaped 25 Years of Otaku Culture

The Kanako Tateshiba 1/5.5 Figure Is a Pettanko Lover’s Dream

Legends Return in Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers

Let’s Check Out The New Rikka Ono Photobook FIVE LIVE

Haite Kudasai, Takamine-san, Episode 7 — Peeking Through the Thin Veil

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.