まじで（まじで、majide）
- really/seriously

まじで is a very common Japanese expression that roughly translates to "really?", "seriously?", "no way!", or "for real?". It conveys disbelief, surprise, or emphasis. It's often used to express strong agreement or to question the truthfulness of a statement. Its meaning depends heavily on the context and the speaker's intonation.

⚫︎まじで？ Translation: Really? / Seriously? ⚫︎今日、試験だったの、まじで忘れてた！ Translation: I totally forgot that we had a test today! ⚫︎あの映画、まじで面白かったよ！ Translation: That movie was seriously good!

⚫︎ Use まじで when you are surprised, shocked, or skeptical about something someone has said. ⚫︎ It can also express strong agreement or excitement. ⚫︎ It's very informal, so use it with friends, family, and people you know well. Avoid using it with superiors or in formal situations. ⚫︎ The intonation is crucial. A rising intonation at the end of まじで often conveys a question, while a flat or falling intonation indicates emphasis or agreement.

⚫︎ まじで is typically written in hiragana. ⚫︎ There is no kanji. ⚫︎ While the spelling is consistent, the tone and the context of the sentence determine the meaning. ⚫︎ Related words: The more polite version of まじで is マジ and マジか. The expression マジで is considered a little bit stronger than まじで.

⚫︎ 本当に (ほんとうに) - Really; truly ⚫︎ マジで (マジで) - Seriously (very similar to まじで) ⚫︎ うそ！ (Uso!) - No way! / That's a lie! (more direct) ⚫︎ 信じられない (しんじられない) - I can't believe it ⚫︎ まじ ⚫︎ マジ ⚫︎ マジで

There are no direct antonyms, as the meaning depends heavily on the situation. However, words that express disbelief could be considered indirect opposites: ⚫︎ 本当だ (ほんとうだ) - It's true (if someone is initially disbelieving) ⚫︎ 嘘だ (うそだ) - That's a lie.

A: あのレストラン、めちゃくちゃ美味しいらしいよ。 ・Translation: A: That restaurant is supposed to be really delicious. B: え、まじで？今度一緒に行こう！ ・Translation: B: Really? Let's go together next time! ・Explanation: B expresses surprise and excitement, and uses まじで to confirm A's statement and express interest.

A: 試験、全部できた！ ・Translation: A: I finished the test perfectly! B: えー、まじですごい！ ・Translation: B: Wow, seriously, amazing! ・Explanation: B expresses their surprise and admiration, using まじで to emphasize the positive assessment.

The word まじで is a shortened and colloquial form of 真面目 (まじめ), which means "serious" or "honest." The use implies that something is being said in earnest or with sincerity. Over time, the meaning shifted to convey emphasis, surprise, or disbelief rather than strict seriousness. It is also believed that まじ is a shortened form of the word マジシャン (magician). But, as a common Japanese expression, まじ is a shortened form of 真面目 (まじめ).