How to say Oh my god in Japanese

Expressions like “Oh my god!” would possibly appear common, however in fact they’re tied to culturally particular issues we steadily take as a right.

Using “God,” for instance, assumes that everybody ascribes to a monotheistic faith like Christianity.

In Japan, that’s not at all the case.

A 2015 survey from Statista discovered that only one.5% of the rustic’s inhabitants is Christian, with maximum describing themselves as Buddhist or believers in Shinto.

So how do you assert “Oh my god” in Japanese?
 

How do you assert “Oh my god” in Japanese?

There are lots of alternative ways to say “Oh my god” in Japanese.「びっくり！」(bikkuri), both on its own or with a type of する (suru), can be utilized to display marvel. Different choices come with「なんて事」 (nante koto),「なんてこった」(nante kotta) and「ええええええ？！」(eeeeee). Ladies too can profit from the female「あれまあ」(ara maa), even supposing it sounds somewhat delicate in comparison to English “oh my god.” If you wish to have to categorical anger or frustration with “oh my god,” you’ll be able to check out「くそ」(kuso) or「もう！」(mou). In spite of everything, there’s「オーマイゴッド！」(oo mai goddo), a transliteration of the English expression, which can be utilized for funny impact.
 

1. 「びっくり！」

「びっくり！」　(bikkuri), or extra totally 「びっくりした！」 (bikkuri shita), actually simply way “shocked” or “I used to be shocked.” You could see this translated as “That stunned me.”

This onomatopoeic phrase is meant to constitute the feeling of being so startled you leap. It technically does have kanji (吃驚), however those are nearly by no means used in observe.

If any person or one thing startled you, 「びっくり！」 is a brilliant an identical to “Oh my god!” Simply don’t use it to categorical feelings rather than marvel.
 

Examples

ゾンビに仮装していた男: 「グアアアアア！」
洋子: 「うわあ！びっくり！」

Guy dressed as a zombie: “Graaaaah!”
Youko: “Ah! Oh my god!”

Youko has long gone right into a haunted space. When a person in gown jumps out at her, she says うわあ (uwaa), a valid of marvel, adopted through びっくり！ (bikkuri) to display how stunned she was once.
 

2. 「あれまあ」

Not like 「びっくり！」, 「あらまあ」　(ara maa) is each very delicate and can be utilized in nearly any scenario. You could call to mind it because the Japanese an identical of “Oh my.”

If truth be told, 「あらまあ」 is so delicate that it’s more than likely no longer an actual fit for “oh my god” as a rule. Spoken with the correct quantity of scorn, marvel, disgust or anger, regardless that, it will probably undoubtedly come throughout as beautiful intense.

The one factor that prevents this expression from being universally spoken is that it’s historically coded as female speech. That implies in the event you’re no longer a girl, Japanese other people would possibly take a look at you a little bit oddly in the event you say this.
 

Examples

「あらまあ！本当にそう思っていたの？」

“Oh my! Did you in point of fact assume that?”

This situation is a grasp elegance of passive competitive politeness. 「あらまあ！」 is used no longer to categorical authentic marvel, however to indicate how silly the objective was once for considering one thing that clearly isn’t true.

「今朝、朝ご飯は食べていませんでした。」
「あらまあ！」

“I didn’t consume breakfast this morning.”
“Oh my!”

Right here, the expression is used to simply display marvel at one thing.
 

3. 「なんて事」

The expression 「なんて事」 (nante koto) is derived from 「何と言う事？」 (nani to iu koto), a query that actually asks “what factor did you assert?”

In its shortened shape, regardless that, you’re no longer in reality asking any person a query. なんて事 is only a means to categorical delicate marvel, surprise or a host of different feelings. It’s identical to “You’re joking, proper?”

If you happen to’re further stunned, you’ll be able to use the comparable expression 「なんてこった」 (nante kotta). It is a shortening of 「何と言う事だ？」 and sounds considerably extra forceful and shocked.

If you happen to watch Japanese selection presentations, you’ll steadily pay attention announcers use those two expressions to ostentatiously display how sudden one thing is.
 

Examples

「なんてこった！コメントが面白いぞ！」

“Oh my god! Those feedback are hilarious!”

If you happen to run throughout a remark like this online, chances are you’ll even translate なんてこった as WTF or OMG.

「なんてこったパンナコッタ！」

This situation is shut to untranslateable, however is beautiful humorous.

It’s なんてこった mixed with パンナコッタ　(panna cotta), the Italian dessert. This isn’t used in actual lifestyles, however was once a catchphrase utilized by comic Shigeo Tsujimoto.
 

4. 「ええええええ？！」

Sure, you’re studying that proper. It’s simply the hiragana え (e) drawn out for so long as you’ll be able to. You could call to mind this like announcing “Whaaaaaaaat?!” in English.

Probably the most gorgeous issues about this feature is that you’ll be able to utterly alternate the meaning in keeping with your tone of voice and the period of the え. The longer you dangle that notice, the extra shocked you’ll sound, even supposing after a definite level it begins to sound sarcastic.

If you happen to’ve ever observed that video from a Japanese communicate display the place an owl adjustments its dimension through manipulating its feathers, you’ll be able to pay attention one of the most panelists say this.
 

Examples

「けいちゃんは結婚していたって。」
「ええええ？マジですか？」

“She stated Kei were given married.”
“Oh my god, in reality?”

On this discussion, the primary speaker says that they heard Kei were given married. The second one speaker says 「ええええ？」 to display their marvel, adopted through 「マジですか？」 (maji desu ka) to ask if the primary speaker is critical.
 

5. 「くそ！」

Many of the expressions above are about marvel, however that’s in reality only one means to use “Oh my god” in English.

If you happen to’re attempting to categorical frustration or anger, you’ll be able to succeed in for 「くそ！」 (kuso), a phrase that actually way “shit.” This phrase does sound a bit tough, and wouldn’t be suitable in a place of work, however doesn’t lift the similar stage of obscenity in Japanese as its English an identical.

That makes it an ideal catch-all for eventualities the place chances are you’ll say “Oh my god” since you’re offended with any person or annoyed with a scenario you end up in.
 

Examples

「クッソ！このバカ猫！」

“Oh my god, this silly cat!”

Right here, くそ has morphed to クッソ (kusso), appearing the speaker’s frustration with a cat.

Fanatics of the anime End result Basket might be very conversant in this actual instance.
 

6. 「もう！」

「もう！」 (a mou) is every other nice expression for while you’re annoyed.

This one is much more delicate than くそ, and is principally the Japanese an identical of claiming “ugh” or “geez.”
 

Examples

「ああ、もう！止めっとけ！」

“oh my god, prevent it!”

Right here, もう is joined to ああ (aa) to display the level of the speaker’s frustration. The second one sentence 止めっとけ (yamettoke) is a colloquial means of claiming “prevent it” or “go away me on my own.”
 

7. 「オーマイゴッド！」

This is more or less a cheat, because it’s only a transliteration of “Oh my god” the usage of katakana.

All of the similar, if you wish to have one thing this is completely as shut in meaning to “Oh my god,” then 「オーマイゴッド！」 (oo mai goddo) is the only to opt for.

Simply stay in thoughts that it’s no longer in reality utilized by Japanese other people natively out of doors of comedy presentations or different funny eventualities.

Even though other people in Japan will perceive what you mean in the event you say this, it is going to more than likely sound such as you’re simply joking, particularly if English is already your local language.

You can also simply say “Oh my god” in English, with out transliterating it into katakana!

(*7*)