Japanese · In the Stands
弱い
yowai
yo-WYE · /jowai/
Weak / you suck / no contest
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"weak"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
"Weak" — the taunt for an outmatched team or player. "Yowa!" clipped is the smug "pathetic." Also non-sporty: "osake ni yowai" means low alcohol tolerance (not an insult), and "yowai mono ijime" is bullying the weak. Context sorts the literal from the jeer.
Heard in the wild
後半でバテるとか、弱すぎ。
Gassing out in the second half — way too weak.
Where it lands
Nationwide
Quick answers
- What does "弱い" mean?
- In Japanese, "弱い" means "Weak / you suck / no contest". Literally it's "weak". "Weak" — the taunt for an outmatched team or player. "Yowa!" clipped is the smug "pathetic." Also non-sporty: "osake ni yowai" means low alcohol tolerance (not an insult), and "yowai mono ijime" is bullying the weak. Context sorts the literal from the jeer.
- Is "弱い" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
- How do you pronounce "弱い"?
- Say it "yo-WYE" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: jowai.
Related in Japanese
ばか baka BAH-kah Idiot / dummy / stupid あほ aho AH-ho Idiot / dummy (Kansai flavor — often affectionate) 馬鹿野郎 baka-yarō BAH-kah yah-ROH You stupid bastard / you goddamn idiot クソ野郎 kuso-yarō KOO-so yah-ROH Piece of shit / shitty bastard この野郎 kono-yarō KO-no yah-ROH Why you...! / you little...! ブス busu BOO-soo Ugly woman / dog
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