ゴミ

• Reading: ゴミ
• Romaji: gomi
• Pronunciation: /go.mi/

Meaning

Trash, garbage, or worthless — a harsh insult declaring something (or someone) has absolutely no value.

ゴミ literally means garbage/rubbish, and as slang it retains that full force. Calling something ゴミ means it is completely worthless and beyond redemption. It is used for terrible products, awful experiences, and — when directed at people — is one of the more cutting insults available. While common in gaming and internet culture, using it about a person is genuinely offensive.

Examples

1. あのアプリ、アプデしたらゴミみたいに重くなった。 That app got so sluggish after the update it's basically garbage now.
2. ゴミみたいな対応されてマジで腹立った。 I got treated like trash and it seriously pissed me off.
3. このゲームバランスゴミすぎない？ Isn't the balance in this game total garbage?

Usage Guide

Context: gaming, internet, friends, social media

Tone: contemptuous, harsh

Do Say

• この品質でこの値段？ゴミじゃん。 (This quality at this price? It's garbage.)
• ゴミみたいなUIで使う気なくす。 (The trash UI kills any motivation to use it.)

Don't Say

• 人に対して「ゴミ」は非常に侮辱的 — 友達間でも冗談として通じない場合がある (Calling a person 'gomi' is extremely insulting — it may not pass as a joke even among friends)

Common Mistakes

• Underestimating how harsh ゴミ is when directed at people — it is genuinely dehumanising
• Using ゴミ in any setting where you want to maintain a relationship with the listener

Origin & History

From the standard Japanese word ゴミ/塵 (gomi, garbage/rubbish). The slang use as a harsh insult for worthless things or people became widespread through internet and gaming communities in the 2000s–2010s.

Cultural Context

Era: 2000s onward as internet/gaming insult

Generation: All ages (harsher register among younger speakers)

Social background: Universal informal/vulgar

Regional notes: Used nationwide. Especially prevalent in gaming communities and online discourse.