Compliments & Encouragement

Introduction

Japanese has wonderfully creative ways to encourage and praise people. From calling someone 天才 (genius) to the all-purpose がんば (do your best), these words build people up in casual Japanese.

This chapter covers slang for complimenting, encouraging, and motivating others.

Themes

All Japanese Slang in This Chapter (80)

1. すごすぎ すごすぎ Too amazing or beyond incredible — an intensified form of すごい used to express overwhelming admiration or shock.
2. がんば がんば Go for it — a shortened, casual form of がんばって used to encourage someone.
3. 流石 さすが As expected of you — a compliment acknowledging that someone has performed up to or beyond their known high standard.
4. つよつよ つよつよ Super strong or elite-level — a playful reduplication of 強い used to praise exceptional skill or power.
5. よわよわ よわよわ Super weak — a playful reduplication of 弱い used for self-deprecation or gentle teasing about lack of skill or stamina.
6. かわいすぎ かわいすぎ Too cute or overwhelmingly adorable — an intensified form of かわいい expressing that something exceeds normal levels of cuteness.
7. 美しすぎる うつくしすぎる Too beautiful or stunningly gorgeous — a hyperbolic expression of beauty that suggests something surpasses the normal limits of aesthetics.
8. 素敵 すてき Wonderful, lovely, or charming — a warm compliment used to express genuine admiration for something or someone.
9. センスいい センスいい Good sense or great taste — a compliment praising someone's aesthetic judgement, style, or creative instinct.
10. スタイルいい スタイルいい Great figure or physique — a compliment about someone's body proportions or overall physical appearance.
11. 似合ってる にあってる It suits you or it looks great on you — a go-to compliment when someone's appearance matches something perfectly.
12. 頼りになる たよりになる Reliable or dependable — someone you can count on when things get tough.
13. 頼もしい たのもしい Dependable or reassuringly strong — used to express that someone gives you confidence through their strength or reliability.
14. 偉い えらい Great job or well done — a compliment praising someone's effort, discipline, or good behaviour.
15. えらすぎ えらすぎ So admirable or you did amazingly — an intensified form of 偉い expressing strong praise for someone's effort or discipline.
16. よく頑張った よくがんばった You worked really hard or well done — a heartfelt acknowledgement of someone's perseverance and effort.
17. お見事 おみごと Splendid or brilliantly done — an exclamation of admiration for an impressive feat or display of skill.
18. ベスト ベスト The best — a loanword used to declare something or someone as the absolute top.
19. 王子 おうじ Prince — used as a nickname or compliment for a charming, handsome, or princely guy.
20. 姫 ひめ Princess — used as a nickname or compliment for a cute, pampered, or particularly feminine girl.
21. 玄人 くろうと Expert or pro — someone who really knows their stuff, with an implication of deep, experienced knowledge.
22. お手本 おてほん Role model or textbook example — someone or something that sets the standard others should follow.
23. 鬼かわいい おにかわいい Insanely cute — using 鬼 (demon/ogre) as an intensifier meaning 'crazy' or 'insanely' before cute.
24. バケモノ バケモノ Monster — used as a compliment for someone with freakishly extraordinary talent or ability.
25. 化け物 ばけもの Monster — the kanji form emphasising unbelievable, almost supernatural skill or ability as a compliment.
26. 人間やめてる にんげんやめてる Quit being human — an extreme compliment meaning someone's abilities are so extraordinary they've transcended human limits.
27. 覇王 はおう Supreme ruler or dominant force — used to describe someone who dominates their field completely.
28. 安定 あんてい Stable or consistently reliable — praise for someone or something that always delivers a solid, dependable result.
29. 安心感 あんしんかん Sense of security or reassuring presence — the feeling of comfort and safety someone or something provides.
30. 癒し いやし Healing or soothing — someone or something that provides comfort and emotional restoration.
31. 元気もらった げんきもらった You gave me energy or I'm cheered up — expressing that someone or something has lifted your spirits and restored your vitality.
32. 勇気もらった ゆうきもらった You gave me courage — expressing that someone's words, actions, or example has inspired you to be brave.
33. 憧れ あこがれ Aspiration or someone I look up to — expressing admiration for a person you want to emulate.
34. 目標 もくひょう Goal or target — used as a compliment meaning someone is your inspiration or the standard you're striving toward.
35. 脱帽 だつぼう I take my hat off to you — an expression of being so impressed that you figuratively remove your hat in respect.
36. 感服 かんぷく Deeply impressed or filled with admiration — a formal-feeling expression of genuine awe at someone's skill or character.
37. 好き すき I like you/this — used freely in casual Japanese to express affection or enthusiasm for almost anything.
38. 大好き だいすき I love you/this — a stronger form of 好き expressing deep affection or enthusiasm.
39. 沸いた わいた I'm hyped or so excited right now — literally 'boiled over,' expressing overwhelming excitement.
40. 感動した かんどうした I'm moved or deeply impressed — expressing that something has touched you emotionally.
41. 待ってた まってた I've been waiting for this — an exclamation of excitement when something long-anticipated finally arrives.
42. 大正解 だいせいかい Absolutely correct — emphatic validation that a choice or decision was perfectly right.
43. 間違いない まちがいない No doubt about it — a strong endorsement meaning something is guaranteed good or a choice is definitely right.
44. キュンです キュンです My heart skipped a beat — an expression of feeling a sudden pang of affection or cuteness overload.
45. ギャップ萌え ギャップもえ Falling for someone's unexpected contrast — the charm felt when someone shows a surprising side that contradicts their usual image.
46. 神ってる かみってる On a godlike streak — someone performing so miraculously well it seems divine.
47. 天才かよ てんさいかよ Are you a genius or what? — a rhetorical exclamation of admiration for something impressively clever or skilled.
48. 顔面優勝 がんめんゆうしょう Face championship winner — someone so good-looking that their face alone takes first place.
49. 歩く芸術品 あるくげいじゅつひん A walking work of art — someone whose appearance is so stunning they look like a moving sculpture.
50. 美の暴力 びのぼうりょく Violence of beauty — someone so gorgeous it feels like an assault on your senses.
51. 優しさの塊 やさしさのかたまり A lump of pure kindness — someone who is nothing but gentle and considerate.
52. リスペクトしかない リスペクトしかない Nothing but respect — expressing total admiration for someone's talent, effort, or character.
53. 感謝しかない かんしゃしかない Nothing but gratitude — overwhelmed with thankfulness, common in fan culture and heartfelt moments.
54. 無敵 むてき Invincible — someone so dominant in their field or moment that nobody can touch them.
55. 国宝級 こくほうきゅう National treasure level — someone so precious or talented they should be designated a cultural asset.
56. 規格外 きかくがい Off the charts — literally outside specifications, someone whose talent exceeds all normal standards.
57. 唯一無二 ゆいいつむに One and only — completely unique and irreplaceable, with no second of their kind.
58. 別次元 べつじげん Another dimension — someone operating on a completely different level from everyone else.
59. 存在が優勝 そんざいがゆうしょう Their very existence is a win — just being alive and present is enough to be the best.
60. 声がいい こえがいい Great voice — a common compliment for streamers, VTubers, and voice actors that implies attractiveness.
61. オーラある オーラある Has an aura — someone who radiates star quality or charisma that you can physically feel.
62. 華がある はながある Has flower-like brilliance — someone who naturally stands out and draws all attention in a room or on stage.
63. 努力の人 どりょくのひと A person of effort — praising someone who achieved greatness through hard work rather than just natural talent.
64. 完全勝利 かんぜんしょうり Complete victory — someone dominated so thoroughly there was no contest.
65. 生きる伝説 いきるでんせつ Living legend — someone whose achievements are already legendary while they are still active.
66. 格好良すぎ かっこよすぎ Way too cool — someone's appearance or actions are excessively attractive or impressive.
67. バグレベル バグレベル Bug-level — someone so talented or beautiful it seems like a glitch in reality.
68. 沼しかない ぬましかない Nothing but a swamp — you can only fall deeper into obsession with this person; there is no escape.
69. 品がある ひんがある Has class — someone who carries themselves with elegance and refinement.
70. 底知れぬ才能 そこしれぬさいのう Unfathomable talent — someone whose abilities seem to have no limit or bottom.
71. 逸材 いつざい Exceptional talent — a one-of-a-kind person whose abilities are outstanding and rare.
72. 有能すぎ ゆうのうすぎ Too competent — someone who is impressively capable, often said with playful exasperation.
73. 本物 ほんもの The real deal — someone who is genuinely talented, not just hype or surface-level skill.
74. 育ちが良い そだちがいい Well-raised — a compliment for someone whose manners, speech, and behaviour show a good upbringing.
75. 仕事が早い しごとがはやい Works fast — a compliment for someone with an impressively quick turnaround on tasks.
76. 守備範囲広い しゅびはんいひろい Versatile — literally 'wide defensive range,' meaning good at many things.
77. 頭いい あたまいい Smart — a casual compliment for a clever approach, quick thinking, or general intelligence.
78. 世界一 せかいいち Best in the world — a hyperbolic declaration that someone or something is number one globally.
79. 圧巻 あっかん Spectacular — an overwhelmingly impressive performance or display that dominates everything around it.
80. 顔面偏差値高い がんめんへんさちたかい High face score — objectively good-looking, as if measured by a standardised attractiveness index.