🌙 Introduction
Welcome to the Passerby Japanese Series —
where ordinary life collides with anime-level chaos,
and one poor guy named Kenta keeps getting caught in it.
Today’s lesson:
「え、なにこれ!?」 — “Wait, what’s going on!?”
A perfect Japanese reaction when your day suddenly turns into an anime episode.
🎬 Scene: The Unexpected Battle
A quiet street. Evening light.
Then — BOOM. A wall explodes. Smoke rises.
A hero and a villain appear out of nowhere.
やめろぉぉぉ!!
Stop it!!
フッ…無駄な抵抗だ。
Hmph… resistance is futile
え、なにこれ!? え!? ここ交差点だよね!?
Wait, what!? This is a crosswalk, right!?
A beam of light shoots past him.
His backpack flutters.
Somewhere, someone yells, “YAMEROOO!!” again.
And thus, once more…
Kenta witnessed something no one will ever believe.
💡 Word Focus
| 日本語 | Romaji | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| え | e | huh / what | Common interjection for surprise |
| なに | nani | what | Basic question word |
| これ | kore | this | Refers to a nearby object or situation |
| ！？ | !? | exclamation | Adds anime-like intensity |
「え、なにこれ!?」
➡️ “Wait, what’s this!?” / “What’s going on!?”
Used when you’re shocked, confused, or suddenly dragged into chaos —
like Kenta, who just wanted to go home.
⚔️ Cultural Insight
In Japanese, “え” isn’t just a sound.
It’s emotion — surprise, disbelief, curiosity, panic, all in one syllable.
When someone says:
「え、なにこれ!?」
they’re not politely asking a question.
They’re saying, “My brain just crashed.”
You’ll hear it in anime, dramas, and daily life.
From explosions to bad test scores — it fits every kind of shock.
💬 Mini Grammar
「え」 — interjection (like “huh?”)
「なに」 — “what” (question word)
「これ」 — “this”
「!?」 — emphasis, emotion, chaos
👉 Put it all together, and you get:
「え、なにこれ!?」 = “Wait, what’s going on!?”
Casual. Surprised. Totally anime.
🧠 Kenta’s Reflection
「オレ、ただコンビニ行こうとしただけなんだけど…
なんで毎回バトルに巻き込まれるんだよ。」
(I just wanted to grab a snack…
why do I keep ending up in boss fights?)
✨ Vocabulary Recap
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| え | e | huh / what |
| なに | nani | what |
| これ | kore | this |
| まきこまれる | makikomareru | to get involved / caught up |
| やめろ | yamero | stop it |
🏁 Conclusion
“え、なにこれ!?” is your all-purpose Japanese reaction for surprise.
It’s short, dramatic, and perfectly anime.
Next time life throws you a plot twist —
say it like Kenta would:
「え、なにこれ!?」
and brace yourself for the next episode.
🔗 Next Lesson
👉 Passerby #2 — 「またかよ…」 (“Not again…”) — The language of exasperation
