超やばい
chou yabai
The English phrase "so sick" can be translated into Japanese as 超やばい (chou yabai).
In a slang context, 超やばい is used to express that something is incredibly impressive, cool or intense.
What does it mean word for word?
The word やばい originally meant 'dangerous' or 'bad,' but in modern slang, it is used to mean something is 'crazy,' 'insane,' or 'amazing' depending on context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
超やばい is highly colloquial and should be avoided in formal or professional settings. For a formal way to say you feel very unwell, you might use とても具合が悪い or 体調が非常に悪いです. In a more casual, everyday setting, you can use the colloquial phrase めっちゃ具合悪い.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something "was" so sick in the past tense, you change the ending to the past tense form 超やばかった.
How do you pronounce it?
chou yabai
Did you know?
- The word やばい was once used by Edo period criminals to describe the 'dangerous' feeling of being about to be caught by the police.
- If you use 超やばい to describe a person's health, you might actually be telling them they look like they are in grave danger. Unlike the English 'so sick' used for coolness, applying it to a person's physical state returns to the word's literal meaning of 'danger'.
- The word めっちゃ used in めっちゃ具合悪い is a dialect word from the Kansai region that became so popular it is now used across all of Japan.
Examples in context
- あの映画、超やばい。Ano eiga, chou yabai.That movie is so sick.
- このラップ、超やばいね！Kono rappu, chou yabai ne!This rap is so sick!
- 彼のギターのテクニック、超やばいよ。Kare no gitaa no tekunikku, chou yabai yo.His guitar technique is so sick.
Example conversation
Two friends are listening to a new song on a smartphone.
- 陽太 Yotaこの曲、超やばくない？Kono kyoku, chou yabakunai?Isn't this song so sick?
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ、超やばいね！Hontou da, chou yabai ne!You're right, it's so sick!
- 陽太 Yota美咲、このアーティスト知ってる？Misaki, kono aatisuto shitteru?Misaki, do you know this artist?
- 美咲 Misaki全然知らない、でも最高！Zenzen shiranai, demo saikou!I don't know them at all, but they're the best!
