Worst cuss word in japanese?

[GoldCoinLover]

Considering japanese are so polite, I figured they wouldnt have many cusswords. So i went to the bookstore today, and got a japanese slang book. The book is just filithy, full of hookers, sex, etc. And alot of nasty stuff in english, somehow translating to japanese. I have to ponder just how accurate it is. Its title is something like "Japanese you never learned in school" and they also have it in italian and other languages. I forgot the name of the book, as I didn't buy it, and I won't discuss all of the slang I wrote down, as some of it, if translated correctly, is just filithy and nasty. But I was wondering if this was correct:

Is zakennayo a real japanese cuss word? They portraited this in the book as the worst cuss word, and this word also meant the f word in english, and equivilient to all other cuss words in english of the same amplittude. And they said this word in japanese subtitles is what is used..

My japanese friend told me yare! (Do it!) is probably the worst. But I just wanted to post this because somehow, I doubt the credibility of the book. It wasn't made by a japanese, rather an american, so its hard to find out the credibility. My japanese friend isnt on, so I just figured I'd post this. The book also said behind americans backs they say "Gajin da!" etc.

 

[Luthien Rogue]

The dictionary is your friend.

 

[Mike Cash]

Japanese doesn't really have cuss words in the sense that you're used to or thinking of. Not to say there aren't vocabulary items which aren't appropriate for all situations, of course.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Considering japanese are so polite, I figured they wouldnt have many cusswords.

Haha, you should meet some of the Japanese I have! Japanese people are the same as people anywhere else. They can be quite rude when they want to be!

Is zakennayo a real japanese cuss word? They portraited this in the book as the worst cuss word, and this word also meant the f word in english, and equivilient to all other cuss words in english of the same amplittude. And they said this word in japanese subtitles is what is used..

Well, for your benefit, let's dissect this one a little. "Zakennayo" is a shortened version of ふざけるなよ (fuzakeru na yo). My trusty Japanese-English translates "fuzakeru" as "romp, fool, jest" and the "na" means "don't". "Na" is very direct and therefore rude. "Yo" is for emphasis.

So my best translation would be like, "Stop trying to take me for a fool!" or maybe "Stop F*cking around!" Not the same as the F-word, and you can say this Japanese to young people like you probably wouldn't say the F-word in English.

But make no mistake. It's quite rude.

My japanese friend told me yare! (Do it!) is probably the worst.

Although "yare!" is clearly rude, I think if you're looking in terms of one word, "shine!" (Die!) is worse. But knowing such things doesn't really help.

Mikecash is quite right. If you're looking for cusses that directly correspond to English ones, you're in for a sore surprise. It simply doesn't work that way. It's more of a grammar, attitude, context-specific thing. Cussing in Japanese is not easy, IMHO, and at your level, probably not the best thing to be studying!

 

[Davey]

Cussing in Japanese is not easy

I toast on that!!! why do people want to do this anyway... Learn this? lets be Nice.. Peace to the world!!!!

 

[Gaijinian]

GCL, I have seen what I believe to be the same book; it's contents had extremes vulgarity for the English translations, but like Mikawa Ossan said, you could say it right to a kid, and it would be very RUDE, but the word would not be... "bad," if you know what I mean.
貴様寝すぎやがって、間に合えなくなっちまうぜ！
Surely that is "rude," but how vulgar is it...?

 

[Elizabeth]

Of all the derogatory ways of referring to someone
貴様 is the only real "fighting" word I could use as well...whatever happened to that book now that I really need it.

 

[Elizabeth]

GCL, I have seen what I believe to be the same book; it's contents had extremes vulgarity for the English translations, but like Mikawa Ossan said, you could say it right to a kid, and it would be very RUDE, but the word would not be... "bad," if you know what I mean.
貴様寝すぎやがって、間に合えなくなっちまうぜ！
Surely that is "rude," but how vulgar is it...?

Although I wouldn't exactly consider cursing, just like anger, as "rude" or "impolite" in English, either unless it's loud enough to be heard in a crowd or directed at strangers or figures of authority. It isn't so much an issue of disturbing the peace as, like you say, coming out of a vulgar and ignorant and uncreative way of speaking if that makes any sense.

他人行儀に聞こえる悪い言葉は、夫婦、家族間では使ったら、失礼な言い方と思わないです。
ただ乱暴な言葉だけだと思います。

A greater problem with many Japanese is that things may appear arrogant or condescending to Westerners that they are completely unconscious (or thoughtless) of.

自分の横柄さに気がついていない日本人が多いと思います。 :sorry: