Translation guide
The English word "guy" is a casual way to refer to a man or, in the plural, a mixed-gender group. Japanese has many equivalents, but the best choice depends on formality, gender, and context. Direct translation is often unnatural; instead, use names, titles, or omit the subject entirely.
You want to refer to a man in a casual, friendly way, similar to "guy" in English.
A general word for 'man' or 'guy'. Can sound blunt if used directly to address someone, but common in descriptive speech.
Who's that guy?
A very casual, sometimes rough way to say 'guy' or 'dude'. Can be derogatory depending on tone. Use with close friends.
That guy is late again.
Formal word for 'male' or 'man'. Used in official contexts, not for casual 'guy'.
Who is that gentleman?
You want to get a man's attention or address him directly, like "hey guy" or "that guy over there".
In Japanese, directly calling someone 'guy' is unnatural. Use their name with an honorific (さん, くん) or a title/role instead.
Hey, can I talk to you for a sec? (to a guy named Tanaka)
Literally 'older brother', but used to casually address a young man, like 'hey guy' or 'mister'. Polite enough for strangers.
Hey guy, you dropped this.
Literally 'person there'. Can be used to call out to a stranger, but can sound abrupt. Use with caution.
Hey guy over there, can you help me?
You want to say 'guys' to address or refer to a group that includes men and women, like 'you guys' or 'those guys'.
The most common and natural way to say 'guys' when addressing a group. Works for any gender mix.
Hey guys, listen up!
Polite version of 'みんな'. Use in more formal settings or with people you don't know well.
Plural of やつ, meaning 'those guys'. Rough and often derogatory. Only for close friends or when complaining.
You want to refer to a woman's boyfriend or male romantic partner, like 'my guy' or 'her guy'.
Standard word for 'boyfriend'. Neutral and widely used.
Her guy is a nice person.
Can mean 'he' or 'boyfriend' depending on context. Less explicit than 彼氏.
Can mean 'boyfriend' or 'lover' in casual speech, but can sound possessive or rough. Use with care.
You want to say something like 'a guy can dream' or 'some guy told me', referring to an unspecified male person.
Used generically for 'a man' or 'a guy'. Often combined with ある (some) or 一人の (one).
Some guy told me that.
Gender-neutral 'person'. If gender is not important, this is more natural than forcing 'guy'.
Formal 'male person'. Used in news or official descriptions.
English 'guy' is often used as a filler or friendly address. In Japanese, directly translating 'guy' can sound unnatural or rude. Instead, use names, titles, or omit the subject entirely when context is clear.
男 (おとこ) is casual 'man/guy'. 男性 (だんせい) is formal 'male'. やつ is slang and can be derogatory. Choose based on your relationship and setting.
Japanese doesn't have a direct plural for 'guy'. Use みんな (everyone) for groups, or add たち/ら for rough plurals (やつら). Often, context makes number clear without plural markers.
Hey guys, let's go!
皆さん、お集まりいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you all for coming, guys.
Those guys are making noise again.
I went on a date with my guy yesterday.
あの子の男、誰？
Who's that girl's guy?
Some guy I don't know came.
不審な男性が目撃された。
A suspicious guy was spotted.