草 (kusa) literally means “grass,” but functions as Japanese internet slang for “LOL.” The term evolved from visual internet language patterns unique to Japanese typing culture, creating one of the most-used hashtags in Japanese social media.

Linguistic Evolution

The evolution:

1. 笑 (warai - laugh) → abbreviated to w
2. wwwwww (multiple w’s) → looked like grass growing
3. 草 (kusa - grass) → replaced wwwww

This visual pun became standard by 2010. The more something was funny, the more 草—“草生える” (kusa haeru - grass growing) meant “making me laugh.”

2channel Origins

草 emerged on 2channel (now 5channel), Japan’s largest anonymous board. The platform’s text-only format encouraged creative linguistic shortcuts. 草’s adoption spread from 2channel to Niconico (video platform), then Twitter and mainstream platforms.

Usage Variations

• 草 (kusa) - LOL
• 大草原 (dai-sougen - big grassland) - LMAO
• 草不可避 (kusa fukahi - grass unavoidable) - Can’t help but laugh
• 森 (mori - forest) - Extremely funny (more than grass)
• 草生えた (kusa haeta - grass grew) - That made me laugh

Platform-Specific Usage

• Twitter: 草 as reaction, quote tweet commentary
• YouTube comments: 草 spam during funny moments
• Twitch/streaming: Real-time 草 floods
• Discord: 草 emoji/reactions

The character’s single-kanji brevity made it ideal for fast-paced reactions.

Cultural Export

As Japanese internet culture spread globally:

• Anime subtitle viewers learned 草
• Vtuber international fans adopted it
• Hololive/Nijisanji English audiences use 草
• Non-Japanese speakers type 草 in Japanese streams

The term transcended language barriers through context.

Generational Acceptance

Unlike many internet slangs that age out, 草 crossed generations:

• Teenagers: Primary usage
• 20-30s: Mainstream adoption
• 40+: Some usage (替え text still prefer 笑)

Its kanji nature (vs. alphabet slang) granted legitimacy.

Related Terms

• #w (original abbreviation)
• #笑 (warai - still used by older users)
• #lol (Western import, used ironically)

Meme Integration

草 became meme component:

• “草” with laughing crying emoji
• “これは草” (kore wa kusa - this is grass/funny)
• Image macros with grass growing

Sources:

• 2channel/5channel Linguistic Analysis
• Japanese Internet Slang Evolution Studies
• Niconico Culture Documentation