1.
second (in a sequence); B; the second of the ten Heavenly Stems
The second item in the traditional East Asian ordering system (the Heavenly Stems). Used to label items as 'B' in contracts, forms, and legal documents.
甲と乙の契約。
A contract between Party A and Party B.
甲乙つけがたい。
It's hard to choose between the two.
成績は乙だった。
The grade was B.
2.
stylish; tasteful; chic; having a certain charm
Describes something that has a subtle, refined elegance or charm. Often used for experiences, places, or things that are pleasantly understated.
乙な味だね。
It has a nice, sophisticated flavor.
路地裏の小さな居酒屋で飲むのも乙なものだ。
Drinking at a small izakaya in a back alley has its own charm.
雨の日に家で読書するのも、なかなか乙だ。
Reading at home on a rainy day is rather nice, in its own way.
3.
thanks for the hard work (internet slang)
Short for お疲れ (otsukaresama), used online to express thanks or acknowledgment, especially at the end of a gaming session or collaborative work.
「配信終了！」「おつ〜！」
'Stream's over!' 'Thanks for streaming!'
おつ！今日も楽しかった。
GG! Today was fun too.
レイドクリアおつ！
Thanks for the raid clear!
A word with a remarkably wide range of uses, from formal legal documents to casual internet slang.
SENSE 1 — RANKING:
Part of the 十干 (Heavenly Stems) system: 甲, 乙, 丙, 丁... Used in contracts where 甲 is Party A and 乙 is Party B.
SENSE 2 — STYLISH:
乙な is a somewhat old-fashioned but still-used expression describing understated elegance. Common set phrases:
- 乙な味: a sophisticated flavor
- 乙なもの: something with charm
- 乙な計らい: a thoughtful, tasteful arrangement
SENSE 3 — INTERNET SLANG:
Abbreviation of お疲れ (otsukaresama). Written in hiragana (おつ) or katakana (オツ). Very common in live streams, gaming, and online communities.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 粋: stylish, chic — the Edo aesthetic sense; more strongly cultural
- 甲: first rank, A — the counterpart to 乙 in ranking