How to say "dope" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 麻薬まやくnounCovers 'dope' in the drug sense. As the common word for narcotics, it is the natural choice when the English refers to illegal drugs rather than to a foolish person.
- 薬やくnounIn slang use this can mean dope in the drug sense, but it is above all the ordinary word for medicine, so the drug reading comes through only when the context makes it unmistakable.
- nounCovers 'dope' meaning a silly person. The nuance is gentle teasing rather than a real insult, so it suits affectionate banter far better than a cutting remark; it is usually written in kana alone.
- nounCovers 'dope' as a foolish person — a dummy or fool — but being a dated colloquialism it is seldom the word you want; in ordinary speech it sounds distinctly old-fashioned.
- nounCovers 'dope' in the insulting sense of a fool or dimwit. A blunt colloquial insult usually written in kana, it fits when you genuinely mean to call someone an idiot, not as light teasing.
For dope meaning drugs, use 麻薬, with 薬 a slangier but ambiguous option; for dope meaning a silly person, 「おばかさん」 is the mild teasing choice, while 「クルクルパー」 is dated and 「トンチキ」 a harsher insult.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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