Definition: ‘Kusa-sugiru’ (草すぎる) translates literally to ‘too grassy.’ In Japanese internet slang, it is used to express that something is incredibly funny or hilarious, deriving from the visual representation of laughter as ‘w’ (warau), which looks like blades of grass.
If you spend any time on X (formerly Twitter) or Japanese forums like 2channel, you’ve likely seen a string of ‘w’s after a sentence. Eventually, users started typing ‘www’ so much that it looked like a patch of grass, leading to the term ‘kusa’ (grass). When something is so funny you can’t even handle it, we say ‘kusa-sugiru.’
During my years living in Tokyo, I’ve watched this term evolve from a niche message-board joke to something that even younger generations use in casual text conversations. It’s the ultimate shorthand for ‘LMAO.’ However, as with all slang, context is everything.
Pro-Tip: Never use ‘kusa’ or ‘kusa-sugiru’ in formal business emails or when speaking to someone of higher status. It is strictly ‘net-speak.’ For formal situations, stick to standard phrases like ‘omoshiroi desu ne’ (that’s funny/interesting).
The Evolution of ‘Kusa’
It’s fascinating how language evolves. Initially, people typed ‘warau’ (to laugh). Then it shortened to ‘w’. Because ‘w’ looks like grass (kusa), the shorthand became ‘kusa.’ Now, ‘kusa-sugiru’ is the superlative. You might even see people write ‘daikusa’ (big grass) or just ‘kusa.’ It is a linguistic evolution that captures the lightning-fast pace of digital communication in Japan.
Friend: “Did you see the video where the cat fell into the fish tank?”
You: “Kusa-sugiru! I can’t stop rewatching it.”
Common Mistakes Foreigners Make
The biggest mistake is overusing it. If you use ‘kusa-sugiru’ in real life, spoken out loud, you might sound like you are trying too hard to be ‘internet cool.’ It is far more common in text and digital environments. Also, don’t confuse it with other slang expressions for humor. If you want to refine your Japanese slang knowledge, check out our guides on Uzai, which is for annoyance, or Sore-na for agreement.
Variations You Should Know
- Kusa: The base form. Used when something is funny.
- Kusa-haeru: Literally ‘grass grows.’ Used when you laugh at a situation.
- Kusa-sugiru: Used when something is so funny that ‘just grass’ doesn’t cover it.
Understanding these subtle shifts helps you bridge the gap between textbook Japanese and the language actually used on the streets and screens of modern Japan.
