Japanese culture is known for its love of all things considered “cute,” so much that the Japanese word kawaii (cute) has entered the popular lexicon! Perhaps it’s no surprise that the Japanese language has many words that may sound cute to English speakers. Some of these cute Japanese words may be English-based words with Japanese pronunciation (a cognate), slang words, and various onomatopeias.
In future Japanese conversations, try incorporating a couple of these words to add some fun! If you’d like to know other useful expressions for interactions with native Japanese people, try learning through Rosetta Stone. The intuitive, immersive method helps you learn words and phrases in a way that sticks better than just memorization.
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Things cute Japanese words might have in common with English
You’ll find many words on this list with repeating sounds, like pika pika and tsubu tsubu. In English, these are called reduplications and we don’t have a lot of them (“bye-bye” and “choo choo” might be examples). In Japanese, though, it is common to use repetitive sounds in everyday conversation. Also, their variety of cute Japanese words that repeat is much more expansive.
Grammatically, these repetitive words can be used individually as a reaction word. To emphasize the feeling, you can add da ne after the phrase, like pika pika da ne. Other examples are included in textbooks like the Genki and Tobira series. However, there are many more–and many cute words in Japanese–to explore!
1. Yabai (やばい)
Pronunciation: yah-bai
Yabai might be the most important slang term in Japanese. While it originally meant “bad” or “dangerous,” now it has positive meanings such as “amazing” or “cool.” It can be used for almost anything as long as the feelings are strong.
The flexibility of yabai can be compared to that of “sick” in English slang. The literal meaning of sick is negative, and it can be used to indicate disgust or even to say something is “amazing” or “cool.”
Yabai is an i-adjective and will be applied that way grammatically.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 財布を無くした。やばい！ | Saifu o nakushita. Yabai! | sai-foo oh nah-koo-shtah yah-bai |
I lost my wallet. Oh no! |
| やばい人 | yabai hito | yah-bai hee-toh | a dangerous person |
| このゲームはやばい。昨日一日中やっていた | Kono geemu wa yabai. Kinou ichi nichi juu yatte ita | koh-noh gayy-moo wa yah-bai kee-nohh ee-chee nee-chee joo yah-TAY ee-tah |
This game is incredible (but also dangerously addictive). I played it all day yesterday. |
2. Meccha (めっちゃ)
Pronunciation: meh-CHAH
In contrast to yabai, meccha is straightforward slang. It simply means “very” or “extremely.” If you’re already used to the word totemo, try replacing it with meccha in your sentences. Just keep in mind that your sentences will be more casual.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| めっちゃ可愛い | Meccha kawaii | meh-CHAH kah-wah-eee | It’s very cute. |
| めっちゃ面白い | Meccha omoshiroi | meh-CHAH oh-moh-shee-roy | It’s very funny / interesting. |
| めっちゃ疲れた | Meccha tsukareta | meh-CHAH tsoo-kah-reh-tah | I’m very tired. |
3. Bimyou (微妙)
Pronunciation: bee-MYOHH
Depending on the situation, bimyou can be translated as “subtle,” “sensitive,” or “iffy.” Although it’s usually left out of textbooks, it’s a common and helpful Japanese word. You can use it when you don’t know how to express your feelings about something.
Bimyou is an na-adjective and will follow those grammar rules:
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 微妙な違いがあります | Bimyou na chigai ga arimasu | bee-MYOHH nah chee-gai gah ah-ree-mahs | There’s a subtle difference. |
| 状況は微妙です | Joukyou wa bimyou desu | johh-kyohh wah bee-MYOHH dehs | The situation is delicate. |
| 微妙な味 | Bimyou na aji | bee-MYOHH nah ah-jee | The taste is iffy. |
4. Pika pika (ピカピカ)
Pronunciation: pee-kah pee-kah
This fun Japanese word refers to something “gleaming” or “shining,” especially after being polished. Those familiar with the Pokemon franchise may find this word familiar. The mascot’s name is Pikachu. Since pika pika can be used as the sound for an electric spark, it became part of Pikachu’s name. The chu part is the sound a mouse makes, essentially the Japanese equivalent of “squeak.”
Most often, pika pika describes something freshly polished or brand new.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| ピカピカの新しい靴 | pika pika no atarashii kutsu | pee-kah pee-kah noh ah-tah-rah-sheee koo-tsoo | shiny new shoes |
| 床をピカピカに磨きます | Yuka o pika pika ni migakimasu | yoo-kah oh pee-kah pee-kah nee mee-gah-kee-mahs | I will polish my floor so it shines. |
>> Find out how long it takes to learn Japanese!
5. Kira kira (キラキラ)
Pronunciation: kee-rah kee-rah
At first glance, this word is similar to pika pika, as kira kira means “sparkling” or “glittering.” However, they are used in different situations, making this a good chance to explore the bimyou (subtle) differences in the examples below.
There’s also an interesting trend of parents giving their children quirky names, known as kira kira names that “sparkle” more than the average name. Many of these names resemble little of a traditional name, such as Jedi (from Star Wars), Bullet Train (shinkansen), Sadness (kanashimi), Pikachu, and Drool (yodare). There are too many unusual kira kira names to list, but these give you an idea.
Used in the standard way, kira kira is often paired with the verbs kagayaku or hikaru, which are synonyms meaning “to shine” or “to glitter.”
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| キラキラ輝くダイヤモンド | Kira kira kagayaku daiyamondo | kee-rah kee-rah kah-gah-yah-koo dai-yah-mohn-doh | A diamond that glitters brightly. |
| 星が空でキラキラ光っていました | Hoshi ga sora de kira kira hikatte imashita | hoh-shee gah soh-rah deh kee-rah kee-rah hee-kah-TAY ee-mahsh-tah | The stars were sparkling in the sky. |
| おもちゃを見る子供の目は、キラキラしていた | Omocha o miru kodomo no me wa, kira kira shite ita | oh-moh-chah oh mee-roo koh-doh-moh noh meh wah kee-rah kee-rah shee-tay ee-tah | The child’s eyes sparkled as they looked at the toy. |
6. Tsubu tsubu (粒々)
Pronunciation: tsoo-boo tsoo-boo
Tsubu means “bead,” so this unique Japanese word is used to describe the texture of beads.You could use it to describe beads as “grainy,” “beady,” and even “bumpy,” as long as the bumps are fairly small. If fruit juice is referred to as tsubu tsubu, it could mean the juice has small seeds (such as those from strawberries and kiwis) or is full of pulp. Anko (red bean paste) is a key component of Japanese traditional sweets, and there is a texture variation called tsubuan.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 粒々ピアス | tsubu tsubu piasu | tsoo-boo tsoo-boo pee-ah-soo | beady earrings |
| 粒々したもの | Tsubu tsubu shita mono | tsoo-boo tsoo-boo shee-tah moh-noh | Things with a grainy / beady / bumpy texture. |
| このオレンジジュースは粒々が入っている | Orenji juusu wa tsubu tsubu ga haitteiru | koh-noh oh-rehn-jee joo-soo wah tsoo-boo tsoo-boo gah hai-tay-ee-roo |
The orange juice has pulp in it. |
7. Dekoboko (凸凹)
Pronunciation: deh-koh-boh-koh
While this Japanese word also sounds cute, what really makes it stand out is how it looks when written. The word means “uneven” or “bumpy,” so deko looks like a bump, and boko looks like a groove—both of which are entirely on purpose! In contrast to tsubu tsubu, dekoboko is used to refer to larger bumps and rough surfaces.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 凸凹道 | dekoboko michi | deh-koh-boh-koh mee-chee | bumpy road |
| その道は凸凹しています | Sono michi wa dekoboko shite imasu | soh-noh mee-chee wah deh-koh-boh-koh shee-tay ee-mahs | That road is bumpy. |
| 月の表面は凸凹です | Tsuki no hyoumen wa dekoboko desu | tsoo-kee noh hyohh-mehn wah deh-koh-boh-ko dehs | The surface of the moon is uneven. |
8. Yuru kyara (ゆるキャラ)
Pronunciation: yoo-roo kyah-rah
Japan is infamous for its multitude of mascot characters which are generally referred to as yuru kyara. The word yuru comes from the word yurui (loose) and kyara (character). It’s not exactly clear why the word yurui was chosen, but it seems the meaning itself has been interpreted loosely. Most yuru kyara (mascots) represent a city or region, so a memorable yuru kyara is great for drawing in tourists who are attracted to different characters.
9. Shima uma (しまうま)
Pronunciation: shee-mah oo-mah
A shima uma is an animal with a logical name. Shima means “stripe” and uma means “horse,” so naturally this is the word for zebra. The pronunciation is what makes this a cute Japanese word when you say it quickly.
Japanese has many words that are made from a rational combination of other words, particularly another animal. For example, hari means “needle” and nezumi means “mouse.” Thus, hari nezumi is a hedgehog!
>> Do you know the essential Japanese greetings along with proper etiquette?
10. Hai tacchi (ハイタッチ)
Pronunciation: HAI tah-CHEE
The word hai tacchi is directly based on an English phrase but varies slightly from the expression we use. Can you guess what it means?
It’s how you say “high five” in Japanese! Hai is like our English equivalent, but tacchi means “touch.” It still makes logical sense, since you “touch” hands up “high.” You can use hai tacchi in the same situations you normally would: for a job well done, for encouragement, or maybe just for fun with some kids.
11. Uupaaruupaa (ウーパールーパー)
Pronunciation: ooo-pahh-rooo-pahh
This is one of the most fun Japanese words to say—and one of the cutest! It refers to an axolotl (salamander) that has become popular recently because of its unique appearance. It has six tendrils on its head (three on each side), is often a light pink color, and appears to have a perpetual smile.
As many Japanese people love axolotl, they can be found at numerous aquariums in Japan. For those familiar with Pokémon, the appearance and name of “Wooper” is directly inspired by the uupaaruupaa.
12. Pero pero (ペロペロ)
Pronunciation: peh-roh peh-roh
This word represents the sound of licking, especially when animals eat food or drink water. Of course, things related to animals are often adorable, which is why pero pero has become a popular word in Japanese. The Japanese word for lollipop or sucker is pero pero kyandii, meaning a “candy for licking.” The actual word for “to lick” is nameru, and the two words can be used together.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 犬が人をペロペロと舐める | Inu ga hito o pero pero to nameru | ee-noo gah hee-toh oh peh-roh peh-roh toh nah-meh-roo | The dog licks people enthusiastically. |
13. Neba neba (ねばねば)
Pronunciation: neh-bah neh-bah
Neba neba describes a particular texture with the closest words being “gooey” and “slimy” but in a somewhat sticky way. It may not sound appetizing, but neba neba is most often used to describe different foods. The infamous fermented soy beans called nattō are commonly described as neba neba. Okra and grated yam—called tororo—often get the gooey label as well.
If you’re not a fan of neba neba shite iru foods, you’re not alone! Precisely because it’s off-putting to many people, it’s fun to use neba neba in conversation.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 納豆は臭くてねばねばしている | Nattou wa kusakute neba neba shite iru | nah-TOH wah koo-sah-koo-tay neh-bah neh-bah shee-tay-ee-roo | Nattō is smelly and slimy. |
14. Bebii kaa (ベビーカー)
Pronunciation: beh-BEEE kahh
Bebii kaa also directly comes from English, but the literal translation is more of a description in English. If you think about what bebii could mean and what kaa could mean, you might be able to make a guess.
Bebii means “baby” and kaa the word for “car.” Here’s what’s different about the meaning. The literal translation is “car for a baby,” which would be a stroller!
15. Puri kura (プリクラ)
Pronunciation: pooh-ree koo-rah
Puri kura is another combination of English words: print (purinto) and club (kurabu). While the two words in English might not make sense, it basically means the Japanese style of photo booths. The instructions in the booth often suggest different poses as you take pictures. You can even use different filters, add stickers, and digitally write on the photos. As puri kura are prevalent in Japanese culture, we recommend trying at least once with a friend or two.
This word is typically paired with the verb “to take” as you can see below.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 友達とプリクラを撮った | Tomodachi to puri kura o totta | toh-moh-dah-chee toh pooh-ree-koo-rah oh toh-TAH | I took pictures at a photo booth with my friends. |
16. Icha icha (イチャイチャ)
Pronunciation: ee-chah ee-chah
Icha icha has a fun use in Japanese; it’s the sound effect for flirting or PDA. You can use it to complain about PDA or tease friends about their relationships. There’s both a negative and positive connotation for this word, depending on how it’s used and the intonation.
This is typically used as a suru verb, so you can add a conjugation of suru to change icha icha into an action.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 二人はイチャイチャしているね | Futari wa icha icha shiteiru ne | foo-tah-ree wah ee-chah ee-chah shee-tay-ee-roo neh | Those two are lovey-dovey, right? |
| 人前でイチャイチャするのは恥ずかしい | Hito mae de icha icha suru no wa hazukashii | hee-toh mah-eh deh ee-chah ee-chah soo-roo noh wah hah-zoo-kah-sheee | It’s embarrassing to do PDA in front of people. |
17. Charai (チャラい)
Pronunciation: chah-rye
Charai is used as an adjective that means “flashy” or “gaudy,” but it conjures up a particular stereotypical image of a person. Almost always their hair is bleached, their fashion is casual but stylish, and their attitude is cocky.
Men are more likely to be charai than women, and they might be referred to as charao (chah-rah-oh). Basically, it’s the kind of man who flirts with and tries to pick up lots of women, or as we might say in English, a “player” or “playboy.”
Like icha icha, you can use it to complain about someone or tease friends about their relationships or appearance.
18. Bonyari (ぼんやり)
Pronunciation: bohn-yah-ree
When you’re unfocused and going about your day on auto-pilot, that is described with the word bonyari. Using it as an adverb, you do things in a bonyari way. Using it as a suru verb, it ranges from “spending time idly” to “spacing out.” In another use, some Japanese people use it to describe a visual (or memory) as “dim” or “indistinct.”
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| ぼんやりした表情 | bonyari shita hyoujou | bohn-yah-ree shee-tah hyohh-johh | an absent look |
| ぼんやりと窓の外を眺めていた | Bonyari to mado no soto o nagamete ita | bohn-yah-ree toh mah-doh noh soh-toh oh nah-gah-meh-tay ee-tah | I looked out the window blankly. |
| ぼんやりと覚えています | Bonyari to oboete imasu | bohn-yah-ree toh oh-boh-eh-tay ee-mahs | I vaguely remember. |
With all the cute Japanese words to learn in this article, we’re guessing you didn’t become bonyari yourself. When learning a new language, it can be easy to zone out or get overwhelmed since you’re learning a whole new set of vocabulary and grammar. Fortunately, the Rosetta Stone app keeps you engaged and immersed in the language. You can even download the lessons to learn more conversational Japanese anywhere you are.
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