ハイテンション

A wasei-eigo (Japanese-coined English) expression. In English, 'high tension' refers to electrical voltage or emotional stress, but in Japanese it means being in a highly excited, energetic state. This is a classic example of how English words take on different meanings in Japanese.

Watch out

English 'high tension' = 高(こう)電圧(でんあつ) or 緊張感(きんちょうかん) (stress/anxiety).
Japanese ハイテンション = excited, hyper, in high spirits.

Common collocations

• ハイテンションになる — to get hyper/excited
• ハイテンションな人(ひと) — an energetic/excitable person
• やけにハイテンション — unusually hyper

Similar words

• テンションが高(たか)い — same meaning, using the phrase pattern テンション + が高(たか)い
• 元気(げんき) — energetic, lively; broader and more neutral
• はしゃぐ — to frolic, to get carried away; implies physical excitement
• ローテンション — low energy, subdued (also wasei-eigo)
• テンションが低(ひく)い — low energy, not in the mood