Japanese has some of the most adorable, expressive, and just plain CUTE phrases in any language! From words that sound like what they mean to expressions that capture feelings perfectly, these phrases will add sparkle ✨ to your Japanese.

Get ready to fill your vocabulary with kawaii goodness! 💖

Affection & Love 💕

1. 大好き！ (Daisuki!)

Meaning: I love (it/you)!

The most common way to express strong liking or love! Can be for people, food, hobbies – anything!

Usage:

• 猫が大好き！ (Neko ga daisuki!) – I love cats!
• ラーメン大好き！ (Raamen daisuki!) – I love ramen!
• 大好きだよ♡ (Daisuki da yo) – I love you ♡

2. きゅんきゅん (Kyun Kyun) 💓

Meaning: Heart fluttering / Falling in love / Squee!

That feeling when you see something so cute your heart squeezes!

Example: あの子犬見て！きゅんきゅんする！ (Look at that puppy! My heart is melting!)

3. ときめく (Tokimeku) 💖

Meaning: To feel your heart flutter / To fall in love

The verb form of those romantic butterflies!

Example: 初デートでときめいた (I felt butterflies on our first date)

4. もふもふ (Mofu Mofu) 🐱

Meaning: Fluffy / Soft and cuddly

For anything you want to squish and hug – cats, dogs, blankets!

Example: このぬいぐるみ、もふもふ！(This plushie is so fluffy!)

5. すきすき (Suki Suki) 💗

Meaning: Like like! / Lovey-dovey

Playful, childish way to say you really like something/someone.

Example: すきすき大好き！(Like like LOVE!)

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Reactions & Expressions 😍

6. かわいい！ (Kawaii!) 🌸

Meaning: Cute! / Adorable!

THE Japanese word everyone knows! Use it for anything cute.

Levels of kawaii:

• かわいい (kawaii) – cute
• 超かわいい (chou kawaii) – super cute
• めっちゃかわいい (meccha kawaii) – crazy cute
• かわいすぎる (kawai sugiru) – too cute!
• 鬼かわいい (oni kawaii) – demon-level cute! 👹💕

7. やばい！ (Yabai!) 🤯

Meaning: Amazing! / Oh no! / Crazy!

The ultimate reaction word – good OR bad!

Cute usage: このケーキやばい！(This cake is insanely good!)

8. きゃー！ (Kyaa!) 💫

Meaning: Eek! / Squeal!

The classic Japanese squeal of excitement or surprise!

Usage: きゃー！イケメン！(Eek! A hot guy!)

9. うそー！ (Uso!) 😱

Meaning: No way! / You're kidding!

Literally "lie!" but means disbelief.

Example: え、うそー！本当に？(Wait, no way! Really?)

10. まじかわいい！ (Maji Kawaii!) ✨

Meaning: Seriously cute!

When something is so cute you need to emphasize it!

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Encouragement & Cheering 📣

11. がんばって！ (Ganbatte!) 💪

Meaning: Do your best! / Good luck! / You can do it!

THE encouragement phrase. Use it for anyone trying their best!

Variations:

• がんばれ！ (Ganbare!) – More direct, masculine
• がんばってね！ (Ganbatte ne!) – Softer, feminine/cute
• がんば！ (Ganba!) – Super casual shorthand

12. ファイト！ (Faito!) ✊

Meaning: Fight! / Go for it!

Borrowed from English but used for encouragement!

Example: 試験、ファイト！(Good luck on your exam!)

13. 応援してる！ (Ouen shiteru!) 📣

Meaning: I'm cheering for you! / I support you!

Example: いつも応援してるよ！(I'm always cheering for you!)

14. きっとできる！ (Kitto dekiru!) 🌟

Meaning: You can definitely do it!

Example: 大丈夫、きっとできるよ！(It's okay, you can definitely do this!)

15. 元気出して！ (Genki dashite!) 💫

Meaning: Cheer up! / Hang in there!

Literally "put out energy/spirit!"

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Agreement & Happiness 😊

16. いいね！ (Ii ne!) 👍

Meaning: Nice! / Good! / Sounds great!

The verbal "like" button!

Example: 明日映画？いいね！(Movie tomorrow? Sounds good!)

17. やった！ (Yatta!) 🎉

Meaning: Yay! / I did it! / Hooray!

Pure celebration!

Example: テスト合格！やった！(Passed the test! Yay!)

18. うれしい！ (Ureshii!) 😄

Meaning: I'm happy! / I'm glad!

Express pure joy!

Example: プレゼント？うれしい！(A present? I'm so happy!)

19. 楽しみ！ (Tanoshimi!) 🤩

Meaning: I'm looking forward to it! / I'm excited!

Example: 旅行、楽しみ！(Can't wait for the trip!)

20. わーい！ (Waai!) 🙌

Meaning: Yay! / Woohoo!

Pure childlike joy!

Example: アイス？わーい！(Ice cream? Yayyy!)

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Compliments & Praise 🌟

21. すごい！ (Sugoi!) 🌟

Meaning: Amazing! / Awesome! / Incredible!

Universal praise word!

Example: その絵、すごい！(That drawing is amazing!)

22. さすが！ (Sasuga!) 👏

Meaning: As expected (of you)! / That's so you!

Praising someone for doing what they're known for!

Example: テスト満点？さすが！(Perfect score? That's so you!)

23. 上手！ (Jouzu!) 👍

Meaning: Good job! / You're skilled!

Example: 日本語、上手ですね！(Your Japanese is good!)

24. えらい！ (Erai!) ⭐

Meaning: Good job! / You're impressive! / Well done!

Often used with children but also casually with friends.

Example: 早起き？えらい！(You woke up early? Good job!)

25. 天才！ (Tensai!) 🧠

Meaning: Genius!

Playful exaggeration of someone's cleverness!

Example: それ思いついた？天才！(You thought of that? Genius!)

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Cute Sound Effects 🎵

26. にこにこ (Niko Niko) 😊

Meaning: Smiling happily

Example: 彼女はにこにこしている (She's smiling happily)

27. わくわく (Waku Waku) 🤩

Meaning: Excited / Thrilled

Example: 遠足でわくわく！(So excited for the field trip!)

28. ぴかぴか (Pika Pika) ✨

Meaning: Sparkling / Shiny

Example: 新しい靴がぴかぴか！(My new shoes are shiny!)

(Yes, Pikachu = ぴかぴか + チュウ!)

29. ふわふわ (Fuwa Fuwa) ☁️

Meaning: Fluffy / Light and airy

Example: パンケーキがふわふわ！(The pancakes are so fluffy!)

30. ぽかぽか (Poka Poka) ☀️

Meaning: Warm and cozy

Example: 日向ぼっこでぽかぽか (Warm from sunbathing)

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Playful Endings & Particles 💬

31. 〜だよ！ (Da yo!)

Meaning: Adds emphasis, like "you know!"

Example: 大丈夫だよ！ (It's okay, you know!)

32. 〜ね！ (Ne!)

Meaning: "Right?" / Seeking agreement

Example: かわいいね！(It's cute, right?)

33. 〜よね！ (Yo ne!)

Meaning: Combined emphasis + agreement

Example: 美味しいよね！(It's delicious, isn't it!)

34. 〜なの！ (Na no!)

Meaning: Soft, feminine emphasis

Example: 好きなの！(I like it!)

35. 〜かな？ (Kana?)

Meaning: "I wonder..." / Soft question

Example: 明日晴れるかな？(I wonder if it'll be sunny tomorrow?)

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Cute Self-Expressions 🙋

36. てへ (Tehe) 😝

Meaning: Oopsie! / Tee-hee!

Playful acknowledgment of a small mistake!

Example: 遅刻した、てへ！(I was late, tee-hee!)

37. えへへ (Ehehe) 😅

Meaning: Nervous/sheepish laugh

Example: えへへ、忘れちゃった (Ehehe, I forgot...)

38. むふふ (Mufufu) 😏

Meaning: Mischievous chuckle

Example: むふふ、秘密♡ (Mufufu, it's a secret ♡)

39. うふふ (Ufufu) 🤭

Meaning: Gentle, ladylike laugh

Example: うふふ、ありがとう (Ufufu, thank you)

40. にゃー (Nyaa) 🐱

Meaning: Meow!

Used cutely at the end of sentences for extra kawaii points!

Example: 眠いにゃー (I'm sleepy-meow~)

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Bonus: Cute Text Expressions! 📱

Expression	Meaning
(´ω`)	Shy/blushing
(´・ω・`)	Sad puppy
(｡♥‿♥｡)	Love eyes
ヽ(>∀<☆)ノ	Excited!
(´;ω;`)	Crying
(`・ω・´)	Determined
(=^・^=)	Cat face
♪(´ε` )	Happy whistling

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How to Sound Cute in Japanese

1. Stretch Your Words

• かわいい → かわいい～
• ありがとう → ありがと～

2. Use Small っ

• すごい → すっごい
• 本当 → ほんっと

3. Drop Endings

• している → してる
• かわいい → かわい～

4. Add Particles

• 〜ね！, 〜よ！, 〜の！

5. Use ♪ and ♡

• ありがとう♪
• 大好き♡

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone use these cute phrases?

Yes! Though some are more feminine-associated, many (like やった！, すごい！, がんばって！) are completely neutral and used by everyone.

Will Japanese people find it weird if foreigners use these?

Not at all! Japanese people are usually delighted when foreigners use natural, native-like expressions. It shows you understand the language beyond textbooks!

Are these appropriate for business?

Most of these are casual – use with friends, not in formal settings! Just like you wouldn't say "Yay!" in an English business meeting.

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Conclusion: Be Kawaii! 🌸

These 40 phrases will add warmth, personality, and cuteness to your Japanese! They're the expressions that make the language feel alive and fun.

Key takeaways: ✅ かわいい is just the beginning! ✅ わくわく, きゅんきゅん add emotion ✅ がんばって is essential encouragement ✅ やった and うれしい express joy ✅ Sound effects like ぴかぴか are daily vocabulary!

Your next step: To say these phrases, you need to read them! Master hiragana with KanaDojo → and unlock your kawaii potential!

かわいいって最高だよね！💕 (Kawaii tte saikou da yo ne!) Cute things are the best, right?!

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Related Articles:

• Japanese Slang Guide
• Japanese Onomatopoeia
• Beautiful Japanese Words