Translation guide
A powerful, highly addictive stimulant drug. In Japanese, it is most commonly referred to as 覚醒剤 (kakuseizai) in legal and medical contexts, or by slang terms like シャブ (shabu) or スピード (supiido) in informal settings.
Referring to the substance in official, medical, or news contexts.
The standard term for methamphetamine, used in legal, medical, and news reports. Literally 'stimulant drug'.
覚醒剤の使用は法律で禁止されています。
The use of methamphetamine is prohibited by law.
Direct loanword from English, used in scientific or technical contexts.
メタンフェタミンは中枢神経刺激薬です。
Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant.
Referring to the drug in casual, underground, or criminal contexts.
Most common slang term for methamphetamine in Japan. Often used in news about drug busts or in fiction.
彼はシャブを打っていた。
He was shooting up meth.
Slang term borrowed from English, less common than シャブ but understood.
スピードをやめられない。
I can't quit meth.
Describing related concepts like addiction, possession, or trafficking.
Methamphetamine addiction.
覚醒剤中毒は深刻な問題です。
Methamphetamine addiction is a serious problem.
Methamphetamine trafficking.
覚醒剤密売で逮捕された。
He was arrested for methamphetamine trafficking.
Using メタンフェタミン in everyday conversation sounds overly technical or foreign. Stick to 覚醒剤 for formal contexts and シャブ for slang.
Also used in slang contexts, especially in police/crime jargon, but シャブ is more common on the street.
覚醒剤で捕まった。
He got busted for meth.