ウソ
Meaning: No way! You're kidding! — an exclamation of disbelief, not an accusation of lying.
While 嘘 (uso) literally means 'lie,' when exclaimed in conversation it functions purely as an expression of surprise or disbelief — like English 'no way!' or 'you're kidding!' The speaker is not accusing anyone of lying; they are reacting to unexpected news. Written in katakana (ウソ) or with an exclamation mark to emphasise the exclamatory function.
Examples
- え、ウソ!あの二人付き合ってるの? 诶,不会吧!那两个人在交往?¿Eh? ¡No me digas! ¿Esos dos están saliendo?에, 거짓말! 그 두 사람 사귀는 거야?
- ウソでしょ、もう終電ないの? 骗人的吧,已经没有末班车了?¡Venga ya! ¿Ya no hay último tren?설마, 벌써 막차 없어?
- 合格したんだって!ウソ、すごいじゃん! 听说考过了!不会吧,太厉害了吧!¡Ha aprobado! ¡No me digas! ¡Qué fuerte!합격했대! 거짓말, 대단하잖아!
Pronunciation
/ɯ.so/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, reactions, everyday conversation, social media
Tone: surprised, disbelieving, exclamatory
✓ Do Say
- ウソ!マジで?信じられない! (No way! Seriously? I can't believe it!)不会吧!真的假的?不敢相信!(No way! Seriously? I can't believe it!)ウソ!マジで?信じられない! (¡Venga ya! ¿En serio? ¡No me lo puedo creer!)ウソ!マジで?信じられない! (거짓말! 진짜? 못 믿겠어!)
- ウソでしょ、そんなことあるの? (You're kidding, does that really happen?)骗人的吧,真有这种事?(You're kidding, does that really happen?)ウソでしょ、そんなことあるの? (¡No me digas! ¿Eso pasa de verdad?)ウソでしょ、そんなことあるの? (설마, 그런 일이 있어?)
✗ Don't Say
- 目上の人に「ウソ!」だけだと失礼 — 「本当ですか?」を使う (Just saying 'uso!' to a superior is rude — use 'hontō desu ka?')对长辈只说「ウソ!」太失礼——应该用「本当ですか?」目上の人に「ウソ!」だけだと失礼 — 「本当ですか?」を使う (Decir solo '¡uso!' a un superior es una falta de respeto — usa '¿hontō desu ka?')윗사람에게 「ウソ!」만 하면 실례다 — 「本当ですか?」를 사용할 것
Common Mistakes
- Thinking someone is accusing you of lying when they say ウソ — in exclamatory use it means 'no way!' not 'you're a liar'
Origin & History
The word 嘘 (lie) has been used as an exclamation of disbelief for a long time in Japanese. The katakana spelling ウソ is preferred in casual writing to signal the exclamatory 'no way!' meaning rather than the literal 'lie' meaning.
Cultural Context
Era: Long-established exclamation, used across generations
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the most natural and reflexive reactions to surprising news.
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