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'.
The use of methamphetamine is prohibited by law.
Direct loanword from English, used in scientific or technical contexts.
Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant.
Referring to the drug in casual, underground, or criminal contexts.
Describing related concepts like addiction, possession, or 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.
He got busted for meth.
He was arrested for methamphetamine trafficking.