Language change constantly and slang is what the Unit 1 focused on. Slang is used by everyone and it gives people distinct identity, sense of belonging, and status. It is still considered taboo, but most people use it quite freely nowadays.
1. テンパる
Meaning: to panic
The slang originally comes form mah-jong word 聴牌（てんぱい）る meaning 'a state where you can finish with one more card'. It was only used by mah-jong players but it began to also mean 'being completely prepared' and 'being completely full', but then it began to hold a worse meaning 'to be up to the chin'. The slang is used by young boys and girls nowadays.
2. おこ
Meaning: angry
The slang's original word is 怒る（おこる） and shorten to おこ which is very simple. The slang is used among young people, often girls, on Twitter.
3. 高まる
Meaning: getting excited
The slang is a way to say you are getting excited but by not saying your feeling is getting excited(気持ちが)高まる.
In my point of view, using slang words shows that you know the latest slang words which gives young people status and not excluded.
Naoko Iwanaga
Hello, I'm Tomohiko.
ReplyDeleteI've never knew that テンパる came from a Mah-jong term. I always thought that it came from the English word 'temper'...
Hi, Tomohiko :) I also didn't know it came from mah-jong!
DeleteHi, this is Ms. MacGregor. Your slang examples are cool. I see that #1 has taken on the opposite meaning (or near opposite) to its original. Do people still use it in mahjong? Tomohiko's idea is also interesting about it coming from English. Do you think it could also be a factor?
ReplyDeleteおこsounds like a very girly word!
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your comment, Ms. MacGregor :) I think it is still used by mah-jong players, and yes, Tomohiko's idea is another theory of テンパる but we do not know which theory is the right one :(
DeleteHello Naoko,
ReplyDeleteI'm Yusuke. I agree with your opinio that slang words are used mainly by young people. I was very surprised to know that "高まる" is one of the slang words. I often see this word even in an essay. I've been thought that "高まる" is a proper Japanese word.
Hi, Yusuke. As I mentioned, I think 高まる turn into slang when it is used WITHOUT mentioning subject. Young people just say 高まる and nothing else when they get excited. Anyway, as you say, of course 高まる is a proper word :)
Delete