A Japanese slang adjective that describes something that stirs strong feelings, ranging from nostalgic or bittersweet emotion to sad melancholy, and occasionally a crude erotic vibe.
Describes something that evokes strong feelings, often nostalgic or bittersweet.
Examples
この映画はエモいね。
This movie is emotional.
夕焼けがエモくて心が揺れた。
The sunset was nostalgic and stirred my heart.
彼の歌はエモかった。
His song was moving.
写真を見るとエモい気持ちになる。
Looking at the photo makes me feel emotional.
あのドラマはエモくて泣けた。
That drama was nostalgic and made me cry.
この風景はエモい雰囲気だ。
This scenery has an emotional atmosphere.
彼女の手紙はエモくて胸が熱くなる。
Her letter is nostalgic and makes my chest warm.
Similar words
感情的
情緒的
切ない
哀愁的
心に響く
胸が熱くなる
Sad or melancholic
adjective
slang
informal
Used to describe something that feels sad, gloomy or melancholic.
Examples
雨の日の街はエモい。
The city on a rainy day feels sad.
彼の声はエモくて切ない。
His voice is melancholic and heartbreaking.
古いアルバムを見るとエモい気分になる。
Looking at the old album makes me feel sad.
この曲はエモかったね。
That song was melancholic.
夜の公園はエモくて寂しい。
The night park is sad and lonely.
彼女の表情はエモい。
Her expression is melancholic.
失恋の後はエモくなる。
After a breakup, I become sad.
Similar words
哀れな
切ない
悲しい
憂鬱な
寂しい
暗い
Erotic in a crass way
adjective
slang
informal
Used to describe something that is sexually suggestive in a vulgar or off‑color manner, often as a pun on エロい.
Examples
あの動画はエモいね。
That video is erotic.
彼の絵はエモくてちょっといやらしい。
His drawing is erotic and a bit lewd.
この漫画はエモいシーンが多い。
This manga has many erotic scenes.
パーティーでエモい服装だった。
The outfit at the party was erotic.
あの歌詞はエモくて官能的だ。
Those lyrics are erotic and sensual.
彼の言動はエモいと感じた。
I felt his behavior was erotic.
このゲームはエモい要素がある。
The game has erotic elements.
Similar words
エロい
いやらしい
官能的な
挑発的な
下品な
セクシーな
Etymology
From English emotional, adapted as the i‑adjective エモい in Japanese youth slang.
FAQ
What does エモい mean?
It is a slang adjective that describes something emotionally moving, nostalgic, bittersweet, sad, or occasionally crudely erotic.
Is エモい a noun or an adjective?
エモい is an i‑adjective, so it inflects like other Japanese adjectives ending in い.
Where does エモい come from?
The word is derived from the English adjective emotional, adopted into Japanese youth slang.
Can エモい be used in formal writing?
No, エモい is informal slang and should be avoided in polite or formal contexts.
How do you form the past tense of エモい?
The past form is エモかった, as in “その映画はエモかった”。
What is the opposite of エモい?
Typical opposites are 冷たい, 無感情な, or 淡白な, which describe a lack of strong feeling.
Is there a difference between エモい and エロい?
Yes. エモい mainly refers to emotional or nostalgic feeling, while エロい describes sexual content; the erotic sense of エモい is a slang pun, not the standard meaning.
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