Random

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual
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Meaning: Strange, unexpected, out of place

奇怪的、意外的、格格不入的
Extraño, inesperado, fuera de lugar
唐突な、予想外の、場違いな
뜬금없는, 예상 밖의, 엉뚱한

Slang use of 'random' meaning strange, unexpected, or arbitrarily chosen. 'That's random' = that's weird/unexpected.

'random'的俚语用法,意思是奇怪、意外或随意选择的。'That's random'= 那很奇怪/意外。
Uso de argot de 'random' que significa extraño, inesperado o elegido arbitrariamente. 'That's random' = eso es raro/inesperado.
「random」のスラング用法で、奇妙、予想外、または任意に選ばれたを意味する。「That's random」= それは変/予想外。
이상하거나, 예상 밖이거나, 무작위적이라는 뜻의 슬랭. 'That's random' = 뜬금없다/예상 밖이다.

Examples

  1. That was so random!
    那太奇怪了!
    ¡Eso fue tan aleatorio!
    それ超唐突!
    그거 완전 뜬금없었어!
  2. Some random guy came up to me.
    有个陌生人过来找我。
    Un tipo aleatorio se me acercó.
    知らない人が話しかけてきた。
    모르는 사람이 다가와서 말 걸었어.
  3. Random question, but...
    随便问一下,但是…
    Pregunta aleatoria, pero...
    唐突な質問だけど…
    뜬금없는 질문인데…
  4. The movie was totally random.
    那部电影完全莫名其妙。
    La película fue totalmente aleatoria.
    その映画完全に意味不明だった。
    그 영화 완전 의미불명이었어.

Pronunciation

/ˈrændəm/

Usage Guide

Context: unexpected, strange, arbitrary

Tone: surprised, bemused

✓ Do Say

  • That's random.
    那很奇怪。
    Eso es aleatorio.
    それ唐突だね。
    그거 뜬금없다.
  • Some random person.
    太随意了。
    Tan aleatorio.
    超ランダム。
    모르는 사람.
  • Random!
    好奇怪。
    Qué aleatorio.
    意味不明。
    뜬금없다!

✗ Don't Say

  • Can seem dated to youngest speakers
    非常随意
    Muy casual
    とてもカジュアル
    가장 어린 세대에게는 촌스럽게 들릴 수 있음
  • Peak 2000s slang
    年轻人俚语
    Argot juvenil
    若者のスラング
    2000년대에 유행했던 슬랭

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

Mathematical term 'random' adopted in slang to mean strange or unexpected. Popular from 1990s-2000s youth culture.

Etymology: From mathematical 'random' to meaning unexpected

First recorded: Youth slang from 1990s

Cultural Context

Era: 1990s-2000s peak

Generation: Millennials and older Gen Z

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Teen culture of 2000s; 'So random!' became cliché

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

RandomSo randomThat's random

Related Phrases

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