ナンパ
なんぱ
noun / suru verb
to hit on; to pick up; flirting
1.
to hit on; to pick up; to flirt with strangers
The act of approaching strangers (typically women) in public places to try to get their attention romantically.
ナンパされた。
I got hit on.
渋谷でナンパする。
To pick up people in Shibuya.
ナンパには気をつけて。
Be careful of people trying to pick you up.
2.
a person who hits on others; a flirt
Someone who frequently tries to pick up strangers.
彼はナンパだ。
He's a flirt.
ナンパ師にはなりたくない。
I don't want to become a pickup artist.
ナンパな男は信用できない。
I can't trust guys who are always hitting on people.
ナンパ comes from 軟派, originally meaning a "soft faction" in politics, later applied to frivolous or romantic pursuits.
REGISTER:
This is casual/colloquial language. The activity often has negative connotations.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ナンパする: to hit on someone
- ナンパされる: to get hit on
- ナンパ師: pickup artist
- 逆ナン: when women hit on men (reverse nanpa)