あざっす
Meaning: Thanks — a slangy, ultra-casual abbreviation of ありがとうございます.
あざっす compresses ありがとうございます into a quick, casual grunt of gratitude. It is heavily associated with young men, athletes, and part-time workers giving a quick thanks. The tone is breezy and informal — almost throwaway. It can sound disrespectful if used in the wrong context, but among peers it signals comfortable familiarity.
Examples
- あざっす、助かります。 あざっす,帮大忙了。Gracias, me viene genial.あざっす, 도움이 됩니다.
- 先輩、差し入れあざっす! 前辈,谢谢慰劳品!あざっす!¡Eh, gracias por el regalo, senpai!선배, 차입 あざっす!
- あざっす、じゃあそれでお願いします。 あざっす,那就这样办吧。Gracias, pues adelante con eso.あざっす, 그럼 그걸로 부탁합니다.
Pronunciation
/a.zasːɯ/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, same-age peers, casual workplace, sports teams
Tone: breezy, quick, masculine-leaning
✓ Do Say
- あざっす、マジ助かった! (Thanks man, that really helped!)あざっす、マジ助かった!(谢啦兄弟,真帮了大忙!)¡Gracias, tío, me has salvado! (Thanks man, that really helped!)あざっす、マジ助かった! (고마워요, 진짜 살았어요!)
- あざっす!いただきます (Thanks! Don't mind if I do)あざっす!いただきます(谢了!那我就不客气了)¡Gracias! Pues lo acepto encantado (Thanks! Don't mind if I do)あざっす!いただきます (고마워요! 잘 먹을게요)
✗ Don't Say
- お客様や目上の方に「あざっす」は絶対NG — 「ありがとうございます」を使う (Never use あざっす with customers or superiors — use ありがとうございます)对客户或长辈绝对不能说「あざっす」——应该用「ありがとうございます」Nunca uses あざっす con clientes o superiores — usa ありがとうございます고객이나 윗사람에게 「あざっす」는 절대 금지 — 「ありがとうございます」를 사용한다
Common Mistakes
- Using あざっす in any formal or semi-formal situation — it sounds extremely sloppy and disrespectful
- Not realising it can come across as dismissive even among acquaintances — best reserved for close peers
Origin & History
Extreme contraction of ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu). The middle syllables are swallowed, leaving only the first and last sounds. Became widespread in casual youth speech in the 2000s-2010s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s-2010s youth slang
Generation: 10s-30s, especially young men
Social background: Youth/casual
Regional notes: Used nationwide among younger speakers. Often heard in sports clubs, バイト (part-time job) settings, and casual male friend groups.
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