Translation guide
An exclamation of surprise, shock, or dismay. Japanese has many interjections that vary by gender, politeness, and intensity.
Express surprise, mild shock, or being taken aback, similar to 'oh my!' in English.
A common, feminine interjection for mild surprise or realization. Often used by women.
あら、もうこんな時間？
Oh my, is it already this late?
A gender-neutral interjection for mild surprise or noticing something unexpected. Slightly more formal than あら.
おや、雨が降ってきた。
Oh my, it's started raining.
A feminine interjection expressing surprise or admiration. Can be drawn out as まあまあ for emphasis.
まあ、きれいな花！
Oh my, what beautiful flowers!
Express stronger surprise, shock, or disbelief, often with a sense of alarm.
A sharp, gender-neutral interjection of surprise or disbelief. Often used when hearing unexpected news.
えっ、本当に？
Oh my, really?
An exclamation of shock or alarm, often in reaction to something sudden or unpleasant.
うわっ、びっくりした！
Oh my, you scared me!
An interjection of being startled or taken aback, often with a sense of fear or shock. More intense than うわっ.
ぎょっとして声も出なかった。
I was so shocked I couldn't even speak.
Express dismay, frustration, or exasperation, similar to 'oh my' when something goes wrong.
A general exclamation of dismay, frustration, or realization of a mistake. Can be drawn out for emphasis.
ああ、またやっちゃった。
Oh my, I did it again.
An interjection of relief or mild exasperation, often used when a troublesome situation is resolved or when sighing.
Literally 'really' or 'utterly', used as an exclamation of exasperation or disbelief, often about someone's behavior.
Express admiration, wonder, or being impressed, often with a positive tone.
An adjective meaning 'amazing' or 'incredible', often used as an exclamation. Can be used by all genders.
すごい！どうやってやったの？
Oh my! How did you do that?
As above, but here used for admiration. Often combined with すてき (lovely) or similar.
まあ、すてきなドレス！
Oh my, what a lovely dress!
Many Japanese interjections are gender-specific. あら and まあ are typically feminine, while おや is neutral. Using a feminine interjection as a male speaker may sound odd. In formal situations, avoid casual exclamations altogether.
For emphasis, vowels in interjections can be drawn out, e.g., あらー, まあー, えーっ. This is common in casual speech.
やれやれ、やっと終わった。
Oh my, it's finally over.
まったく、あの人はいつも遅刻だ。
Oh my, that person is always late.