If you have spent any time lurking on Twitter (X), 2channel, or Japanese gaming forums, you have likely encountered a peculiar sight: a wall of the letter ‘w’ or the kanji ‘草’ (kusa). While the latter literally means ‘grass,’ you won’t find it in any botanical textbook. In the wild world of Japanese internet slang, ‘Kusa-hayashiteru’ (草生やしてる) is the equivalent of saying someone is ‘growing grass’—or more accurately, laughing so hard that the screen is covered in ‘w’s, which look like blades of grass.
🔊 Listen to Native Pronunciation
Tap below to hear how locals naturally pronounce it in Tokyo:
The Origin of the Grass
To understand ‘Kusa’, we must look at the evolution of the ‘lol’ equivalent in Japan. Originally, users typed ‘w’ (short for warau, to laugh). Because many ‘w’s in a row looked like grass growing on the ground, the term ‘kusa’ (grass) was born. ‘Kusa-hayashiteru’ is the act of ‘planting’ or ‘growing’ these ‘w’s in a chat window. It is a quintessential piece of Japanese internet culture, much like the Yabasa intensity scale, reflecting how digital shorthand can evolve into mainstream vernacular.
Textbook vs. Reality: The Social Cringe Factor
In a classroom, you might learn standard ways to express amusement, such as ‘omoshiroi’ (interesting) or ‘wakarimasu’ (I understand). However, no textbook will teach you that using ‘Kusa’ in a real-life face-to-face conversation is incredibly jarring. While young people use it in text, saying ‘kusa’ out loud is often seen as ‘cringe’ or overly performative. It signals that you are perhaps too online. Similarly, using it with someone you do not know well can come across as dismissive or passive-aggressive, as it lacks the sincerity required for genuine social interaction, touching on the complex Sore-ha-nai boundaries of Japanese social conduct.
Realistic Dialogue Breakdown
A (Friend): 昨日、猫がキーボードの上で寝ちゃってさ… (Yesterday, my cat fell asleep on my keyboard…)
B (Friend): それは草生えるわ。 (Sore wa kusa haeru wa. – That’s hilarious [literally: that makes grass grow].)
Analysis: Here, B is using ‘kusa’ to express genuine amusement. The tone is relaxed and indicates a high level of intimacy. If B used a formal term like ‘omoshiroi desu ne,’ it would create an awkward distance.
Usage Table: When to Use (and When to Avoid)
| Relationship | Appropriateness | Alternative Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Close Friend | Safe | ウケる |
| Coworker (Casual) | Risky | 面白いですね |
| Boss/Client | Forbidden | 勉強になります |
Understanding slang like ‘Kusa-hayashiteru’ is about understanding the kuuki (atmosphere) of the digital space. Just as you wouldn’t use Yabai-go in Business, you must keep your ‘grass’ in the digital garden of Discord and Twitter.
