ダサい

• Reading: ダサい
• Romaji: dasai
• Pronunciation: /da.sa.i/

Meaning

Lame, uncool, or tacky — used to criticise someone's fashion, behaviour, or aesthetic sense as hopelessly unhip.

ダサい is the go-to word for calling something or someone uncool. It covers everything from bad fashion choices to embarrassing behaviour to outdated trends. While harsh, it is extremely common in casual speech and often used light-heartedly among friends. It can describe both appearances and actions, making it one of the most versatile put-downs in Japanese.

Examples

1. そのコーデ、ちょっとダサくない？ Isn't that outfit kind of lame?
2. ダサいから絶対あのTシャツ着ないでよ。 That T-shirt is so lame — don't ever wear it.
3. ダサいって言われて結構ショックだった。 Being called lame really hurt more than I expected.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, social media, casual conversation

Tone: dismissive, critical

Do Say

• その髪型ちょっとダサくない？ (Isn't that hairstyle a bit lame?)
• ダサいけど楽だからいいや。 (It's uncool but comfortable, so whatever.)

Don't Say

• 目上の人に「ダサいですね」は失礼すぎる (Saying 'dasai desu ne' to a superior is far too rude — even with polite form)

Common Mistakes

• Using ダサい to describe food or flavour — it only applies to aesthetics, style, and behaviour
• Saying ダサい to someone you don't know well — it can genuinely hurt feelings outside of close friendships

Origin & History

Emerged in the 1970s, possibly from 田舎 (inaka, countryside) suggesting rural unsophistication. Became mainstream youth slang by the 1980s and remains one of the most common criticism words in Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: 1970s–1980s mainstream adoption

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal informal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the most basic and widely understood criticism words.