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Casual Phrases

Everyday native expressions, from friendly to rough. Watch the color codes — orange is fine with friends, red needs real care. For the full no-filter course, see Super Casual English.

Formality guide

FormalNeutralCasualRough

Blue is safe at work, green fits anywhere, orange is for friends, red needs real care.

No worries!

気にしないで!大丈夫!

Casual

Example

"Sorry I'm late!" "No worries!"

「遅れてごめん!」「気にしないで!」

My bad.

ごめん、私のミス

Casual

Example

Oh, my bad — I sent you the wrong file.

あ、ごめん。違うファイルを送っちゃった。

Nuance

Light apology between friends — not for serious situations.

I'm down.

賛成、参加する

Casual

Example

"Want to grab ramen later?" "I'm down!"

「あとでラーメン食べに行かない?」「行く行く!」

Nuance

'I'm down' and 'I'm up for it' both mean YES — confusingly.

That's a vibe.

いい雰囲気、最高

Casual

Example

This café with the rain outside? That's a vibe.

雨の日のこのカフェ、めっちゃいい雰囲気。

Nuance

Young slang — 'vibe' as approval.

Fair enough.

まあ、それもそうだね

Casual

Example

"I just don't like horror movies." "Fair enough."

「ホラー映画が苦手なんだ」「なるほど、それは分かるよ」

It's up to you.

あなた次第だよ、任せる

Casual

Example

Pizza or sushi? It's up to you.

ピザか寿司か?君に任せるよ。

long time no see

久しぶり!

Casual

Example

Hey! Long time no see — how've you been?

おー!久しぶり!元気だった?

hang out

遊ぶ、一緒に過ごす

Casual

Example

We should hang out this weekend.

今週末、一緒に遊ぼうよ。

Nuance

'Play' is for children — adults 'hang out'.

I'm broke.

金欠、お金がない

Casual

Example

Can't do dinner out this week — I'm broke until payday.

今週は外食無理。給料日までお金がないんだ。

That cracks me up.

めっちゃ笑える

Casual

Example

His impressions crack me up every time.

彼のモノマネ、毎回めっちゃ笑っちゃう。

I can't even.

(呆れ・感動で)もう無理、言葉が出ない

Casual

Example

Did you see that finale? I can't even.

あの最終回見た?もう言葉にならない。

Nuance

Deliberately unfinished sentence — very internet-flavored.

spill the tea

ゴシップを話す、詳しく聞かせて

Casual

Example

Okay, spill the tea — what happened at the party?

さあ白状して。パーティーで何があったの?

Nuance

'Tea' = gossip. From drag culture via social media.

ghost someone

(連絡を絶って)自然消滅する

Casual

Example

We had two great dates and then he ghosted me.

2回もいいデートをしたのに、そのあと音信不通にされた。

salty

根に持っている、不機嫌

Casual

Example

He's still salty about losing the game last week.

彼、先週の試合に負けたことまだ根に持ってるよ。

flaky

ドタキャンしがちな、あてにならない

Casual

Example

She's nice, but so flaky — she cancels half the time.

彼女、いい子なんだけどドタキャン魔で、半分くらい約束が流れる。

binge-watch

一気見する

Casual

Example

I binge-watched the whole season in one weekend.

週末でワンシーズン一気見しちゃった。

hit me up

連絡してね

Casual

Example

Hit me up when you're in Tokyo!

東京に来たら連絡してね!

Nuance

Often abbreviated HMU in texts.

That's sketchy.

怪しい、ヤバそう

Casual

Example

A free iPhone if you click this link? That's sketchy.

リンクを押せば無料でiPhone?それは怪しいって。

I'm beat.

くたくたに疲れた

Casual

Example

Three meetings back to back... I'm beat.

会議3連チャン…もうくたくた。

screw it

もういいや、どうにでもなれ

Rough

Example

Screw it, I'm ordering the expensive one.

もういいや、高い方を注文しちゃえ。

Nuance

Mildly rude — fine with friends, not at work.

That sucks.

それは最悪だね、残念

Rough

Example

"My flight got cancelled." "Ugh, that sucks."

「フライトが欠航になった」「うわ、それは最悪だね」

Nuance

Everyday sympathy between friends; too blunt for formal settings.

badass

めちゃくちゃカッコいい(人・物)

Rough

Example

Her presentation was badass — the whole room went quiet.

彼女のプレゼン、圧巻だった。会場が静まり返ったよ。

Nuance

A compliment despite containing 'bad' + 'ass'. Friends only.

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Slang, banter and the words textbooks fear — taught properly, with strength ratings.