Phrase in 30 Seconds
A versatile slang term used to describe something that triggers a deep, nostalgic, or sentimental emotional response.
- Means: A feeling of being moved, nostalgic, or melancholic (max 15 words)
- Used in: Social media captions, discussing art, or reminiscing with friends (max 15 words)
- Don't confuse: Not just 'sad'; it implies a beautiful or meaningful sadness (max 15 words)
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Used to describe something that evokes strong emotions, often nostalgic or sentimental feelings.
Contexte culturel
The 'Showa Retro' trend among Gen Z involves visiting old coffee shops and using film cameras to find 'emoi' moments. 'Emoi' is often seen as the modern successor to 'Mono no aware,' a thousand-year-old concept of finding beauty in the fleeting. On Japanese Instagram, #エモい is one of the most popular tags for photos that have a vintage or melancholic filter. The term is still used to describe 'City Pop'—80s Japanese pop music that has seen a global resurgence for its 'emoi' vibes.
Use it as a reaction
When a friend shows you a nostalgic photo, just saying 'エモい...' with a sigh is a very native-like reaction.
Watch the 'R'
Make sure you say 'Emoi' (m) and not 'Eroi' (r). One is sentimental, the other is X-rated!
Use it as a reaction
When a friend shows you a nostalgic photo, just saying 'エモい...' with a sigh is a very native-like reaction.
Watch the 'R'
Make sure you say 'Emoi' (m) and not 'Eroi' (r). One is sentimental, the other is X-rated!
Instagram Hashtags
If you post a photo of a sunset or a vintage cafe, use #エモい to connect with Japanese users.
The 'Mi' suffix
Using 'エモみ' makes you sound even more like a social media native.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'エモい'.
10{年|ねん}{前|まえ}の{写真|しゃしん}を{見|み}て、とても（ ）なりました。
Before 'naru' (to become), you must use the adverbial form of the adjective, which is 'emoku'.
Which situation is the MOST appropriate for using 'エモい'?
Choose the best context:
This situation combines nostalgia and aesthetic beauty, which is the core of 'emoi'.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural slang response.
A: この{曲|きょく}、{私|わたし}たちが{付|つ}き{合|あ}い{始|はじ}めた{頃|ころ}に{流行|はや}ってたよね。 B: （ ）。
'Maji de emoi ne' is a very natural, casual way to agree with a nostalgic sentiment.
Match the phrase variation to its best description.
1. エモすぎる 2. エモみ 3. エモかった
1. -sugiru (too much), 2. -mi (noun suffix), 3. -katta (past tense).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Emoi vs. Natsukashii
Banque d exercices
5 exercices10{年|ねん}{前|まえ}の{写真|しゃしん}を{見|み}て、とても（ ）なりました。
Before 'naru' (to become), you must use the adverbial form of the adjective, which is 'emoku'.
Choose the best context:
This situation combines nostalgia and aesthetic beauty, which is the core of 'emoi'.
A: この{曲|きょく}、{私|わたし}たちが{付|つ}き{合|あ}い{始|はじ}めた{頃|ころ}に{流行|はや}ってたよね。 B: （ ）。
'Maji de emoi ne' is a very natural, casual way to agree with a nostalgic sentiment.
1. エモすぎる 2. エモみ 3. エモかった
1. -sugiru (too much), 2. -mi (noun suffix), 3. -katta (past tense).
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsMostly, yes. People in their 40s and older might know it but rarely use it themselves. It's best used by Gen Z and Millennials.
Yes, but it's usually a 'moving' happy, not just 'I won the lottery' happy. It needs a bit of soul or story.
No, it's not a swear word. It's just very informal slang.
Use the negative form: 'エモくなかった' (emoku nakatta).
Absolutely not. Use 'kandoteki' or 'kangaibukai' instead.
Yes, that was the original source, but the meaning has expanded significantly since then.
Very often! Characters use it to describe poignant moments or beautiful scenes.
'Natsukashii' is strictly about the past. 'Emoi' can be about a feeling you have right now about something beautiful.
You can, but it means they have an 'emotional' or 'deep' vibe, not that they are currently crying.
Only if you have a very casual relationship and are discussing slang. Otherwise, stick to formal Japanese.
Expressions liées
懐かしい
similarNostalgic
やばい
similarAmazing/Crazy
感慨深い
formal equivalentDeeply moving
チルい
similarChill/Relaxing
尊い
similarPrecious/Sacred
Où l'utiliser
Looking at old school photos
Friend A: この{写真|しゃしん}、{見|み}て！{小学校|しょうがっこう}の{時|とき}のだよ。
Friend B: うわ、エモい！みんな{若|わか}いね。
Watching a sunset at the beach
Person A: 今日の{夕日|ゆうひ}、すごくきれいだね。
Person B: うん、なんかエモい{気分|きぶん}になるね。
Listening to a nostalgic song
A: この{曲|きょく}、{懐|なつ}かしくない？
B: マジでエモい。{高校時代|こうこうじだい}を{思|おも}い{出|だ}すわ。
Visiting a 'Showa Retro' cafe
A: この{喫茶店|きっさてん}、{雰囲気|ふんいき}いいよね。
B: このレトロな{感|かん}じ、エモみが{深|ふか}い。
After a deep conversation with a friend
A: {将来|しょうらい}のこと、いろいろ{話|はな}せてよかった。
B: そうだね。なんか、エモい{夜|よる}になったね。
Seeing a movie ending
A: あのラストシーン、どうだった？
B: エモすぎて{言葉|ことば}が出なかったよ。
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Emotional' + 'i' (Japanese adjective ending). It's the 'Emotional-i' feeling!
Association visuelle
Imagine a grainy, vintage photo of a sunset over a quiet train station. The colors are warm, and you feel a little bit lonely but also happy to be there. That feeling is 'emoi'.
Rhyme
When the vibe is high and you want to sigh, just say 'emoi'!
Story
You find an old toy in your attic. You remember playing with it 20 years ago. A wave of nostalgia hits you. You take a photo, put a vintage filter on it, and caption it 'エモい'.
In Other Languages
In English, it's similar to 'the feels' or 'aesthetic.' In Portuguese, it shares some DNA with 'saudade,' though 'emoi' is much more casual and modern.
Word Web
Défi
Go to Instagram or Twitter and search for the hashtag #エモい. Look at 5 photos and try to describe in Japanese why they are 'emoi' using the grammar you learned.
Review this word whenever you feel a 'vibe' while listening to music or watching a sunset. Practice the past tense 'emokatta' specifically.
Prononciation
Pronounced as three distinct syllables: E-mo-i.
Spectre de formalité
{非常|ひじょう}に{感慨深|かんがいぶか}い{経験|けいけん}でした。 (Reflecting on a shared event)
とても{感動|かんどう}しました。 (Reflecting on a shared event)
エモかったね。 (Reflecting on a shared event)
エモみが{深|ふか}かった。 (Reflecting on a shared event)
It started as a shortened form of the English word 'emotional,' used by fans of 'emo' music in Japan during the late 90s.
Le savais-tu ?
In 2016, 'エモい' was a runner-up for the 'New Word of the Year' award by the Sanseido dictionary.
Notes culturelles
The 'Showa Retro' trend among Gen Z involves visiting old coffee shops and using film cameras to find 'emoi' moments.
“{純喫茶|じゅんきっさ}でクリームソーダを{飲|の}むのはエモい。(Drinking a cream soda at an old-style cafe is 'emoi'.)”
'Emoi' is often seen as the modern successor to 'Mono no aware,' a thousand-year-old concept of finding beauty in the fleeting.
“{散|ち}る{桜|さくら}を{見|み}てエモさを{感|かん}じる。(Feeling 'emoi-ness' looking at falling cherry blossoms.)”
On Japanese Instagram, #エモい is one of the most popular tags for photos that have a vintage or melancholic filter.
“インスタにエモい{写真|しゃしん}をアップする。(Upload an 'emoi' photo to Instagram.)”
The term is still used to describe 'City Pop'—80s Japanese pop music that has seen a global resurgence for its 'emoi' vibes.
“80{年代|ねんだい}のシティポップはエモい。(80s City Pop is 'emoi'.)”
Amorces de conversation
最近、エモいって{感|かん}じたことはありますか？
あなたにとって、一番エモい{曲|きょく}は何ですか？
この{写真|しゃしん}、エモいと{思|おも}いませんか？
「エモい」と「{懐|なつ}かしい」の{違|ちが}いは何だと{思|おも}いますか？
Erreurs courantes
社長のスピーチはとてもエモかったです。
社長のスピーチはとても感動的でした。
L1 Interference
このラーメンはエモい！
このラーメンは美味しい！
L1 Interference
私はエモいです。
私はエモい気分です。
L1 Interference
エモいな人ですね。
エモい人ですね。
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
The feels / Aesthetic
'Emoi' is an adjective, whereas 'the feels' is a noun phrase.
Melancólico / Me llega
Spanish lacks a single slang adjective that covers both nostalgia and visual beauty.
Touchant / Nostalgique
French terms are more specific and less 'slangy' than 'emoi'.
Gefühlvoll / Nostalgisch
German is more descriptive and less ambiguous than the Japanese slang.
مؤثر (Mu'athir) / شجي (Shaji)
Arabic equivalents are usually more intense and less focused on 'aesthetics'.
网抑云 (Wǎng yì yún) / 有感觉 (Yǒu gǎnjué)
The Chinese term is often used more sarcastically than 'emoi'.
갬성 (Gaem-seong)
Korean 'Gaem-seong' is a noun, while 'Emoi' is an adjective.
Saudade / Vibe
'Saudade' is much more profound and heavy than the often light-hearted 'emoi'.
Spotted in the Real World
“N/A (General sentiment)”
The song is frequently described as 'emoi' due to its upbeat melody contrasting with dark, emotional lyrics.
“N/A (Visuals)”
The stunning sunset scenes (twilight/katawaredoki) are the definition of 'emoi'.
“#エモい”
Millions of posts featuring vintage filters and nostalgic scenery.
Facile à confondre
The sounds are very similar, but the meanings are completely different.
Be careful with the 'm' vs 'r' sound. 'Eroi' means erotic/sexy.
Both are three-syllable slang adjectives ending in 'i'.
Kimoi is short for 'kimochi warui' (gross). Emoi is positive/bittersweet; Kimoi is negative.
Questions fréquentes (10)
Mostly, yes. People in their 40s and older might know it but rarely use it themselves. It's best used by Gen Z and Millennials.
usage contextsYes, but it's usually a 'moving' happy, not just 'I won the lottery' happy. It needs a bit of soul or story.
basic understandingNo, it's not a swear word. It's just very informal slang.
basic understandingUse the negative form: 'エモくなかった' (emoku nakatta).
grammar mechanicsAbsolutely not. Use 'kandoteki' or 'kangaibukai' instead.
common mistakesYes, that was the original source, but the meaning has expanded significantly since then.
basic understandingVery often! Characters use it to describe poignant moments or beautiful scenes.
practical tips'Natsukashii' is strictly about the past. 'Emoi' can be about a feeling you have right now about something beautiful.
comparisonsYou can, but it means they have an 'emotional' or 'deep' vibe, not that they are currently crying.
usage contextsOnly if you have a very casual relationship and are discussing slang. Otherwise, stick to formal Japanese.
cultural usage
