A2 Collocation 비격식체 2분 분량

安い思い出

cheap memory

직역: yasui (cheap) + omoide (memory)

Use this to describe superficial experiences that lacked real heart or lasting value.

15초 만에

  • Refers to superficial or shallow memories lacking emotional depth.
  • Often used for short-lived flings or trivial past events.
  • Carries a cynical, self-deprecating, or dismissive tone.

This phrase describes memories that feel shallow, superficial, or lacking in real emotional depth. It is like a 'cheap' souvenir that doesn't hold much value or sincerity.

주요 예문

3 / 6
1

Reflecting on a bad date

あのデートは、ただの安い思い出だね。

That date was just a cheap memory, wasn't it?

😊
2

A breakup conversation

私たちの関係を安い思い出にしたくない。

I don't want to turn our relationship into a cheap memory.

💭
3

Talking about a failed school club

一ヶ月でやめた部活は、安い思い出です。

The club I quit after a month is a cheap memory.

😄
🌍

문화적 배경

The phrase reflects the Japanese aesthetic value of 'sincerity' (magokoro). In a culture that prizes long-term bonds, calling a memory 'cheap' is a sharp critique of its superficiality. It became a popular trope in 1990s and 2000s J-Pop to describe fleeting city romances.

⚠️

Not for Computers

Do not use this for 'cheap RAM' or 'low storage.' For tech, use `yasui memori`. This phrase is strictly for human memories.

💡

The 'Poetic' Nuance

Using this makes you sound a bit like a protagonist in a Japanese drama. It's great for adding a touch of 'cool melancholy' to your speech.

15초 만에

  • Refers to superficial or shallow memories lacking emotional depth.
  • Often used for short-lived flings or trivial past events.
  • Carries a cynical, self-deprecating, or dismissive tone.

What It Means

Think of a memory that feels like a dollar-store toy. It might have been fun for a second, but it has no lasting value. 安い思い出 (yasui omoide) refers to these superficial experiences. It is often used for short-lived romances or shallow interactions. It suggests the experience was hollow or lacked true sincerity. You are basically saying, "That didn't mean much to me."

How To Use It

You use this phrase when reflecting on the past. It usually carries a bit of cynicism or self-deprecation. You can use it to dismiss a bad experience. Or, you can use it to express regret about a relationship. It is a very evocative way to describe something that felt 'thin.' Just attach it to a sentence as a noun phrase.

When To Use It

Use it when talking about a failed date that was boring. It works well for a vacation where nothing interesting happened. You might use it when texting a friend about a short-lived hobby. It is perfect for those 'what was I thinking?' moments. It helps you distance yourself from a shallow past.

When NOT To Use It

Never use this for someone else's precious milestones. Don't call a friend's wedding a 安い思い出. That would be incredibly rude! Also, avoid using it for your own significant achievements. It makes you sound like you have zero self-esteem. Keep it for the truly trivial stuff.

Cultural Background

In Japan, there is a high value placed on omomi (weight or depth). Deep, meaningful connections are respected. Anything labeled yasui (cheap) implies a lack of effort or heart. This phrase often appears in J-Pop lyrics or dramas. It captures the melancholy of a modern, fast-paced world. It reflects the fear of having a life full of 'thin' experiences.

Common Variations

You might hear 安っぽい思い出 (yasuppoi omoide). This means 'cheap-ish memory' and sounds even more dismissive. Another variation is 安いドラマのような思い出 (a memory like a cheap drama). This implies the situation felt fake or cliché. Use these when you want to add an extra layer of sass.

사용 참고사항

This phrase is mostly informal and carries a strong emotional or judgmental tone. Be careful not to use it when discussing experiences shared with people you want to stay on good terms with.

⚠️

Not for Computers

Do not use this for 'cheap RAM' or 'low storage.' For tech, use `yasui memori`. This phrase is strictly for human memories.

💡

The 'Poetic' Nuance

Using this makes you sound a bit like a protagonist in a Japanese drama. It's great for adding a touch of 'cool melancholy' to your speech.

💬

The Weight of Words

In Japan, calling something 'cheap' (`yasui`) is often a bigger insult than calling it 'bad' (`warui`), because it implies it has no soul.

예시

6
#1 Reflecting on a bad date
😊

あのデートは、ただの安い思い出だね。

That date was just a cheap memory, wasn't it?

Used to dismiss a boring or meaningless romantic encounter.

#2 A breakup conversation
💭

私たちの関係を安い思い出にしたくない。

I don't want to turn our relationship into a cheap memory.

Expressing a desire for the past to remain meaningful.

#3 Talking about a failed school club
😄

一ヶ月でやめた部活は、安い思い出です。

The club I quit after a month is a cheap memory.

Self-deprecating look at a short-lived commitment.

#4 Writing a reflective essay
👔

それは安い思い出かもしれませんが、私には大切です。

That might be a shallow memory, but it is important to me.

Acknowledging the lack of depth while still finding personal value.

#5 Texting a friend about a boring party
😊

昨日のパーティー、安い思い出になっちゃった。

Yesterday's party ended up being such a cheap memory.

Casual way to say the event was underwhelming.

#6 Discussing a cliché movie plot
🤝

安い思い出のようなストーリーだった。

The story felt like a cheap memory.

Using the phrase as a metaphor for something unoriginal.

셀프 테스트

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about a shallow experience.

あんな___思い出、すぐに忘れたいよ。

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: 安い

`安い` (yasui) is used here to describe a memory you want to forget because it was shallow.

Complete the sentence to say you don't want the experience to be trivial.

これを安い___にしたくないんだ。

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: 思い出

`思い出` (omoide) means memory, completing the collocation 'cheap memory'.

🎉 점수: /2

시각 학습 자료

Formality of 'Yasui Omoide'

Very Informal

Used with close friends when being cynical.

Yasuppoi omoide da ne!

Informal

Standard casual conversation about the past.

Yasui omoide ni shitakunai.

Neutral

Reflecting on life in a general sense.

Sore wa yasui omoide desu.

Formal

Rarely used; sounds too emotional or poetic for business.

Avoid in professional settings.

When to use 'Yasui Omoide'

安い思い出
🏨

A boring vacation

Staying in the hotel the whole time.

💔

A short-lived fling

A date that lasted 20 minutes.

🎸

A failed hobby

Buying a guitar and quitting in two days.

🎬

A cliché movie

Watching a predictable, shallow film.

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

It's common in creative writing, lyrics, and emotional conversations, though less common in everyday small talk about groceries.

No, that would be yasuku katta omoide. Yasui omoide specifically refers to the quality of the experience itself.

Usually, yes. It implies a lack of depth. However, it can be used humorously to joke about your own failures.

The opposite would be taisetsu na omoide (precious memory) or fukai omoide (deep memory).

Probably not. It's quite personal and subjective. Stick to more neutral terms in a professional setting.

Yes, yasui can sometimes carry the nuance of 'easy' or 'effortless' in a way that suggests it wasn't earned.

That would be nigai omoide. It's different from yasui because a bitter memory can still be very deep and meaningful.

Yes, especially when talking about 'disposable' culture or short-lived social media trends.

Only if you're being very cynical about your childhood. Usually, childhood memories are treated as more 'precious'.

Yasui means cheap, while yasuppoi means 'cheap-looking' or 'tacky.' Yasuppoi omoide sounds even more insulting.

관련 표현

いい思い出 (good memory)

苦い思い出 (bitter memory)

思い出作り (making memories)

一生の思い出 (a lifetime memory)

薄い内容 (thin/shallow content)

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