Kami
Original meaning: God
Meaning in Japanese slang: praise someone or something very highly but lightly and sarcasm at the same time.
So, today’s word is kami which means God originally (Also, kami means “hair” and “paper”. Only God kami has a falling intonation).
Kami doesn’t have any religious meaning nor the insulting any gods either here.
You want to use this expression with a mix of real feeling of amazed and light jocular mood.
How to use:
1. suppose you are watching the World Cup. After someone did great job on the game “ ima no kami pass dane!”(Oh that was an amazing pass!)
2. Think about a great combination of food. Loco moco and gravy souce? Sushi and exquisite spicy wasabi that refreshes your mouth? Personally, I like something salty and sweet at the same time so… chocolate dipped chips? (Before judge me, you try this. It's one of my yabai combination)
so anything above (only when those worked out) is “Kami no kumiawase” (The amazing combination!)
3. This is a little bit otaku one. The situation is that somebody had uploaded something you craved to see on video sharing websites such as Youtube. You say the word kami for the uploaders in order to show the feelings of grateful.
You can copy and use this ; “ 神 ” which is the actual kanji for kami to make sure you what you meant for the uploader. Like I said, kami has three meaning in a same sound.
This time I think I have to illustrate Japanese religious view a little bit. The other day I was asked why most of Japanese says “I don’t believe in religions.”
My whole Japanese experiences at special events (such as wakes and weddings) and meaningful discussion with people who are conversant in Japanese religion led me one conclusion; Japanese is a one big group of multiple religions. There are Buddhism-like family altars in most homes in Japan. We visit Shinto shrine on New Year’s day to wish them good luck on that year. I was impressed by the penetration rate of priests who just look like foreigner but speaking in Japanese at the every scene of wedding vows.
I think Japanese believe in religions and gods. But it’s too deep and is part of our life so that we don’t think of it often (i.e. We believe that everything contains the spirit of god. Water, words, forests, sun, ocean, laughter….everything).
Young generation use the slang kami. It’s not because they are insulting or negating their exsists but it’s actually showing Japanese people feeling a close connection to gods… This is just my point of view. It is of course certain that there are some atheists in Japan too.
Okay. I think I will choose the light slang for the next slang.
