Japanese Slang: ガチ (Gachi)

What is ガチ/”Gachi”? Using Japanese Slang

When you are learning a foreign language, studying slang is an easy and fun way to deepen your vocabulary. Not only will you speak more fluently but you will sound more like a native speaker. Moreover, slang gives you an interesting point of view on society. Let’s learn more about Japanese slang with the word “gachi”, “gachi de”. 

 

A Sumo Match…?
Sentence Examples
In Colloquial Conversations
 

A Sumo Match…?

Have you ever seen a sumo match? It is really impressive. When the rikishi (sumo wrestlers) rush into the fight, it is usually over in a second but not without a noise! On the contrary the violent clash of sumo wrestlers echoes in the arena… The Japanese onomatopoeia for that sound is “gatsun” (“crash”, “thump”).

Well, it is said that “gatsun” is the etymology for the word “gachinko” which originally meant a “serious match”, “a heated battle”, “a violent collision”. However, from the second half of 2000s, young Japanese people started to use “gachi” and “gachide” in conversation like “super” and “serious”. In short, Gachi is the short form of gachinko and is used as a prefix, often with the particle 「で」”de”.

 

Gachi comes to reinforce your opinion of something or to highlight a critical situation and has gained popularity among Japanese teenagers. In particular, it replaced the colloquial word maji which means “in earnest” and “seriously”.

 

 

Sentence Examples

例:「このお笑いコンビ、ガチで面白い!」
Rei: Kono owarai konbi, gachi de omoshiroi!
Example: This comedy duo is super fun!

例:「○○大学の学食のカツカレーって、ガチで辛いよね。」
Rei: Daigaku no gakushoku no katsukarē tte, gachi de tsurai yo ne.
Example: The cutlet curry of our University’s cafeteria is seriously spicy!

例:「ここのお店のたぬきうどん、ガチでしこってるな~」
Rei: Koko no o-ten no tanuki udon, gachi de shikotteru na.
Example: This shop’s tanu gyudon are super tasteful!

 

If one of your Japanese friend says that he is “on a gachi diet”, it means he is “seriously doing a diet” and “having a gachi match” means “having a battle seriously”. Of course, you should use gachi and gachi de only during conversations with people you know well.

 

In Colloquial Conversations

会話1)【若い男性同士の会話】
A:今何時?
B:3時。
A:うっわ、やべー*!急がねぇ**とガチで遅れる!
B:何?これから何かあるの?
A:彼女とデート!この間遅刻したら、ガチでキレられた。
*(=やばい)
**(=急がない)
Kaiwa 1) Wakai dansei doushi no kaiwa.
A:Ima nan ji?
B:3 ji.
A:Uwa, yabee*! Isoganee** to gachi de okureru!
B:Nani? Korekara nani ga aruno?
A:Kanojo to deeto! Konoaida chikoku shitara, gachi de kirerareta. Wakai dansei doushi no kaiwa.
*(=yabai)
**(=Isoganai )
Conversation 1) [Conversation between young men]A: What time is it now?
B: 3 o’clock.
A: Yikes, it’s bad!  I gotta run, otherwise I’ll be seriously late!
B: What? You’ve got an appointment or something?
A: Got a date with my girlfriend! The last time when I was late, she got super angry.
 
会話2)【恋人同士の会話】
男性:遅れてごめん!
女性:もう、遅いよ!ガチで。ほんと、勘弁してよ。
男性:ほんっとに、ごめん!!今日は焼き肉、おごるからさ。
女性:当然でしょ!
Kaiwa 2) Koibito doushi no kaiwa.
Dansei:Okurete gomen!
Josei:Mou, osoi yo! Gachi de. Honto kanben shiteyo.
Dansei:Honto ni gomen!! Kyou wa yakiniku ogoru kara sa.
Josei:Touzen desho!
Conversation 2) [Conversation between lovers]Man: Sorry, I’m late!
Woman: Yep, you’re super late! I can’t take it any more.
Man: My apologies, really! Tonight’s barbecue is on me.
Woman: It better be!

Click here to read more about Japanese slang and the word chin suru! Click to tweet this article and share it with more Japanese learners!

Credit CC BY 2.0: Nakatani YOshifumi
Title: Wrestler of sumo wrestling 相撲
source: Flickr

Coto Japanese Academy is a unique Japanese Language School in Iidabashi Tokyo, we offer relaxed and fun conversational lessons for all levels of Japanese learner. Coto Japanese Academy prides itself on its community atmosphere and fun lessons that focus on creation of opportunities to speak and learn Japanese. If you are interested in studying Japanese in Tokyo – please visit our contact page here.

 

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