How to say "geek" in Japanese

• オタクCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)The common everyday word for 'geek' as an enthusiast devoted to a hobby or field. Colloquial in tone; use it for someone deeply into anime, computers, trains, and the like.
• ギーク
  nounA direct borrowing of English 'geek' with the same meaning. Less common than オタク and closest in feel to the English word; use it when you want the loanword itself.
• ダサ男ださお
  nounCovers 'geek' only in the mocking sense of an uncool, dorky man, not the enthusiast sense. Slang and less common; it is really 'dork' or 'dweeb', said to tease someone for being unfashionable.
• ヲタ
  noun, noun (suffix)A colloquial abbreviation of オタク covering the same enthusiast or 'geek' sense. Less common than オタク; it fits casual conversation and informal writing about a favorite hobby.
  この問題もんだいは、アイドルのエゴとヲタのエゴの衝突しょうとつだ。↗

  This problem is the clash of the idol's and obsessive fan's egos.
• 毒男どくお
  nounInternet slang for a lonely, isolated man, overlapping with 'geek' only as an insult. It really means 'loser' or 'male virgin', so it is seldom the word you want for a harmless enthusiast.

For 'geek' as an enthusiastic hobbyist, 「オタク」 is the common everyday choice, 「ギーク」 a less common direct equivalent, and 「ヲタ」 a less common colloquial abbreviation; 「ダサ男」 and 毒男 are slang for uncool or lonely men, not enthusiasts.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• おたくotaku
• ギークgeek
• ダサ男ださおuncool man
• ヲタotaku
• 毒男どくおlonely heart