Lowkey
意味: Somewhat; secretly; not intensely.
Lowkey is the perfect hedge—admitting something while maintaining plausible deniability about how much you mean it. 'I lowkey love that song' acknowledges enjoyment while suggesting you're not fully committed to that opinion. It's especially useful for guilty pleasures or potentially embarrassing admissions. The opposite, 'highkey,' means openly and intensely. These words capture the internet-age anxiety about being seen as too earnest or uncool.
例文
- I lowkey love that song. 我其实挺喜欢那首歌的Me gusta esa canción en secreto実はあの曲めっちゃ好き은근히 그 노래 좋아해.
- Lowkey stressed about the exam. 对明天有点焦虑Un poco estresado por lo de mañana明日のことちょっとストレス시험 때문에 은근 스트레스야.
- She's lowkey the best player on the team. 不过那个确实很厉害Pero eso fue claramente increíbleあれはマジですごかったけど그녀가 은근히 팀에서 제일 잘해.
発音
/ˈləʊkiː/
使い方ガイド
場面: admissions, opinions, softening statements
トーン: casual, slightly embarrassed
✓ 正しい言い方
- Lowkey love it悄悄地，有点discretamente, un pocoこっそり、ちょっと은근 좋아해
- Lowkey worried其实有点喜欢me gusta discretamente実はちょっと好き은근 걱정돼
- Lowkey think...反义词：明显地opuesto: abiertamente反対語：明らかに은근 그렇게 생각해
✗ 間違った言い方
- Don't overuse—if everything is 'lowkey,' the word loses its hedging function不要过度使用——如果什么都'lowkey'，这个词就失去了其委婉功能No abuses del término, si todo es 'lowkey' pierde su función atenuadora使いすぎない——何でも「lowkey」だと、ぼかす機能がなくなる남용하지 말 것—뭐든 'lowkey'면 완곡어법으로서의 기능을 잃음
- Avoid in formal writing—it's very casual slang正式写作中避免使用——这是非常随意的俚语Evítalo en textos formales, es argot muy coloquialフォーマルな文章では使わない——非常にカジュアルなスラング격식 있는 글에서는 사용하지 말 것—매우 캐주얼한 슬랭임
よくある間違い
- Can be written 'lowkey' or 'low-key' but never 'low key' as two separate words
- 'Highkey' is the opposite—openly and intensely admitting something
起源と歴史
The adjective 'low-key' (understated, restrained) dates to the early 20th century, originally describing subdued lighting or quiet behavior. Internet slang transformed it into an adverb meaning 'somewhat' or 'secretly' by the early 2010s, particularly in African American Vernacular English and hip-hop communities. By mid-decade, it had gone mainstream, appearing in everyday conversation among younger generations. 'Highkey' emerged as its explicit opposite.
語源: Evolution of 'low-key' (understated)
初出: 2010s mainstream usage
文化的背景
Era: 2010s onwards
Generation: Younger generations
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Internet culture; Casual speech
Regional notes: Universal youth slang.
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