ノリ
Meaning: The vibe, energy, or momentum of a situation — and the willingness to go along with it.
ノリ captures the collective mood or energy of a group and one's willingness to ride that wave. Having good ノリ means you are fun, spontaneous, and ready to match the group's energy. It is central to Japanese social dynamics — being able to read and match the ノリ of a gathering is considered an important social skill. The term bridges the gap between 'vibe,' 'momentum,' and 'going with the flow.'
Examples
- あの人ノリがいいから飲み会にいると盛り上がる。 那个人很能带气氛,有他在聚会就特别嗨。Esa persona tiene muy buen rollo, así que cuando viene a las quedadas el ambiente se anima mucho.그 사람 분위기 잘 타니까 회식에 있으면 분위기가 살아.
- そのノリで行こうぜ、深く考えなくていいから。 就这个劲头走吧,别想太多。Sigamos con ese rollo, no le des muchas vueltas.그 노리로 가자, 깊이 생각 안 해도 돼.
- 体育祭のノリそのままで打ち上げ行こ! 趁着运动会的劲头直接去庆功宴吧!¡Vamos directos a la fiesta con el mismo rollo del festival deportivo!체육대회 분위기 그대로 뒤풀이 가자!
Pronunciation
/no.ɾi/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, parties, social gatherings, workplace casual
Tone: energetic, social
✓ Do Say
- ノリで応募したらまさかの合格だった。 (I applied on a whim and somehow passed.)一时兴起报了名,没想到居然过了。(I applied on a whim and somehow passed.)ノリで応募したらまさかの合格だった。 (Me presenté por el rollo del momento y resulta que aprobé.)ノリで応募したらまさかの合格だった。 (분위기에 휩쓸려 지원했더니 뜻밖에 합격했어.)
- 今日のライブ、客のノリ最高だったね。 (The crowd's energy at today's show was incredible.)今天演唱会观众的气氛超棒的。(The crowd's energy at today's show was incredible.)今日のライブ、客のノリ最高だったね。 (La energía del público en el concierto de hoy fue increíble.)今日のライブ、客のノリ最高だったね。 (오늘 공연 관객 텐션 최고였지.)
✗ Don't Say
- 面接で「ノリで御社を志望しました」は絶対ダメ (Never say you applied 'on a nori' in a job interview — it sounds frivolous)面试时说「ノリで御社を志望しました」绝对不行——显得太不严肃了面接で「ノリで御社を志望しました」は絶対ダメ (Nunca digas que te presentaste 'por el rollo' en una entrevista de trabajo — suena frívolo)면접에서 「ノリで御社を志望しました」는 절대 안 된다 (가볍고 불성실하게 들린다)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing ノリ with just 'mood' — it specifically emphasises the active, participatory energy rather than a passive atmosphere
Origin & History
From 乗り (nori, riding/getting on board). The metaphor of 'riding' a wave of energy evolved into slang for matching the mood of a group. The katakana spelling became dominant as the slangy usage spread through 1970s-80s entertainment and music culture.
Cultural Context
Era: 1970s-80s entertainment culture, now universal
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Particularly important in group-oriented social contexts like drinking parties, festivals, and live events.
More From This Topic
More from Classic Slang (Still Used)
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free