ガチャ
gacha
ガチャ is the Japanese word for gacha, referring to a vending machine that uses coins to randomly distribute toys.
The term refers to the mechanic of a vending machine that provides random items. In modern digital contexts, it is also used to describe the mechanic in mobile gaming where players spend in-game currency to receive randomized items or characters, often seen in terms like ガチャRPG.
Meaning: A vending machine that uses coins to randomly distribute toys (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
ガチャ is an onomatopoeic word that mimics the sound of turning a crank or rotating a dial on a machine.
Which one should you use?
While ガチャ is a shortened version of the repeated form ガチャガチャ, the latter is often used specifically to refer to physical capsule toy machines. There is also the informal term ガシャポン used to describe capsule toy vending machines.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term can be turned into a slang verb, ガチャる, which describes the act of pulling or playing gacha games.
How do you pronounce it?
gacha
When do people say it?
In mobile gaming, gacha refers to the specific mechanic of spending currency to receive a randomized character or item.
Did you know?
- The term ガチャ is used as a social metaphor through the phrase 親ガチャ (oya gacha), which describes the 'parent gacha' or the luck of being born into a specific family.
- While ガチャ is the common term, ガシャポン (Gashapon) is actually a trademarked brand name owned by the company Bandai.
- Outside of vending machines, the sound ガチャ is used in Japanese to describe the noise of a door locking or a telephone receiver being hung up abruptly.
Examples in context
- スマホゲームのガチャでレアキャラを引き当てた。I pulled a rare character in a mobile gacha game.This sentence is useful for illustrating how to use ガチャ in the context of mobile gaming.Tatoeba #13440789 by Gardenia, translation #13441364 by MAC
- ガチャってみたI tried pulling the gacha.
- 駅前にガチャが並んでいる。Ekimae ni gacha ga narande iru.There are gacha machines lined up in front of the station.
- このガチャの中身は何ですか？Kono gacha no nakami wa nan desu ka?What is inside this gacha machine?
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are walking through a shopping mall.
- 蓮 Ren見て、あそこに面白いガチャがあるよ。Mite, asoko ni omoshiroi gacha ga aru yo.Look, there's an interesting gacha machine over there.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ！何が入っているのかな？Hontō da! Nani ga haitte iru no kana?You're right! I wonder what's inside.
- 蓮 Ren動物のフィギュアみたいだよ。Dōbutsu no figyua mitai da yo.It looks like animal figures.
- 陽葵 Himariいいな、私もガチャをやりたい！Ii na, watashi mo gacha o yaritai!Nice, I want to do the gacha too!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
