Okini

"Okini" (オキニ/お気に) is an abbreviation of "okiniiri" (お気に入り), referring to a person, thing, or method that someone particularly likes and shows favoritism toward. The closest English equivalent is "fav" (favorite).

Okini can be used in a wide range of everyday situations and conversations.

When incorporating it into an English sentence, expressions like "This is my Okini (fashion)" or "You are her Okini (person)" feel natural from a Japanese speaker's perspective.

Also Used in Idol and Band Fandoms

Among fans of Japanese idols and bands, a fan who is favored by the performer is called an "okini" (essentially, the performer's "favorite" fan). The reasons vary, from good manners and attractive looks to compatible personalities and regular attendance, and it does not necessarily involve romantic feelings.

Whether someone is actually an okini is almost always based on the fans' own observations and speculation.

A shortened form of "okiniiri" (お気に入り) with the ending dropped. The exact time it began to be used as slang is unclear, but it is believed to have spread as youth slang from the late 1990s to the 2000s.

It was highly compatible with gyaru (gal) slang and the mobile text messaging culture of shortening long words. Other abbreviations like "akeome" and "kotoyoro" also emerged during the same period.

Adoption in the Nightlife Industry

In the nightlife industry, such as kyabakura (hostess bars) and host clubs, the term "okini" was also adopted early on to refer to a patron's favorite cast member. This industry usage took root independently of the casual youth usage, and some believe the term actually spread to the general public from this industry.

Since okini is an abbreviation of okiniiri, it has a very casual ring to it.

It is not suitable for formal business settings or when speaking to someone you want to show great respect to. However, it is not inherently rude; using it in casual conversations with Japanese people gives off a "seasoned" vibe, making you sound more like a local.

Japanese Words Similar to Okini

These days, people tend to just use "okiniiri" as-is, but here are some Japanese words that can be used in similar ways to okini.

Teiban (定番)

"The usual" or "the go-to pattern." It is not always used in a positive context.

Aiyou (愛用)

Means "to fondly use something." A staple phrase in advertising, seen in expressions like "The serum that actress fondly uses (aiyou)" or "Software I fondly use (aiyou) and recommend."

Generally used for objects rather than people.

Hiiki (贔屓)

"Giving special treatment" or "preferentially choosing." Used with the nuance of deliberately choosing something from many options, as in "a shop I frequent (hiiki ni shiteiru mise)."

When used about people, such as "He's playing favorites with you (kare wa kimi wo hiiki shiteiru)," it can come across as bitter or sarcastic.

Oshi (推し)

Originally means "to actively recommend" or "to push forward" (e.g., "pushing forward a policy").

Over the past several years, the term "oshi no member" (the member of an idol group you support most) was shortened to "oshimen," then further to "oshi," which spread beyond the idol industry to become a standard otaku term.

Sukipi (すきぴ)

A very casual expression for "a person you like," used primarily by young women. In most cases, it refers to a lover or a crush. For admired idols or artists, "oshi" is more common, unless genuine romantic feelings are involved.

The Antonym of "Okini" in Idol and Band Fandoms

Conversely, a fan who is disliked by a performer is called "okira." The reasons vary; sometimes the performer is simply keeping distance to avoid problematic behavior, or it may be a one-sided assumption by the fan.

Unlike okini, okira never gained widespread use. It is likely only heard within limited circles such as idol or band fandoms.

Difference from "Ookini"

The Kansai dialect word "ookini" (ohh-kee-nee) 大きに = ‘very much’ → ‘thank you’ means ‘thank you,’ and is completely unrelated to okini in both origin and usage. While okini has a very casual ring, ookini can be used in relatively polite settings such as customer service, depending on the context.

In English-speaking contexts, the two are easily confused because the romanized spelling is similar or even identical. It is worth remembering that they are entirely different words.