😬💦

How to Say ‘I'm really nervous right now’ in Japanese

今めっちゃ緊張してます

ima metcha kinchou shi te masu

[ee-mah MEH-chah keen-choh shee te mahs]

💬 Usage Tip: めっちゃ is casual slang for "really", originally from Kansai. Mixing it with polite ます sounds friendly but not rude.

Phrase Breakdown

今めっちゃ

ima metcha

right now, super

めっちゃ is casual slang for 'very'. Hold the small っ: met-cha.

Example

今めっちゃ眠い。

I'm super sleepy right now.

Words in this phrase

今

ima

[ee-mah]

now

Refers to the present moment or current time.

Example

今、忙しいです。

I am busy now.

めっちゃ

metcha

[MEH-chah]

super; really

Casual slang intensifier from Kansai dialect, meaning 'very'.

Example

今日はめっちゃ暑い。

It's super hot today.

緊張してます

kinchou shi te masu

(I'm) nervous

緊張 (kinchō) means 'nervousness'. Say kin-chō-shi-te-mas, with a long o.

Example

面接で緊張してます。

I'm nervous about the interview.

Words in this phrase

緊張

kinchou

[keen-choh]

nervousness / tension

Noun meaning “nervousness/tension.” Common patterns: 緊張する (get nervous), 緊張してる (I’m nervous). Good honest line on a first meeting.

Example

初対面だと緊張します。

I get nervous when meeting for the first time.

し

shi

[shee]

し is the stem of する, meaning to do.

Example

予約しします。

I do the reservation.

て

[te]

te-form ending

Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.

Example

ドアが開いて、入ります。

The door opens, and then I go in.

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite verb ending

A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.

Example

予約を確認します。

I will confirm the reservation.

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