<p>K.Y. stands for <em>Kuuki Yomenai</em> or <a href="https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/372/when-japanese-say-ky-on-the-internet-what-does-it-mean-exactly">"can't read the atmosphere/situation"</a>.</p>

<p>The joke is that the Grim Reaper does not realize that he is a scary sight in the human world, and that asking questions like that isn't appropriate. The second Grim Reaper knows what it means and is basically saying that he isn't reading the atmosphere.</p>

<p>Another translation could be "not taking hints" - like when you start cleaning up after a party and some of the guests <em>fail to read the atmosphere</em> and get ready to leave.</p>

<p>Reference: <a href="http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/kuuki-yomenai" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Japan Talk - Why You Need To Read The Air in Japan</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-07T22:37:12.083Z
2015-08-08T07:19:39.750Z
2017-04-13T12:43:49.183Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>There's this scene in <em>Nichijou</em> episode one where a Grim Reaper is asking everyone:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Do you know what K.Y. means?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Nobody replies him, maybe because they're scared of him. Finally he asks another reaper dressed in blue, and he replies:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Someone clueless, like you.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is this supposed to be a joke? I don't really understand what happened.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/sWRzX.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/sWRzXm.jpg" alt="Do you know what K.Y. means?"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/hx7X9.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/hx7X9m.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<nichijou>
What does K.Y. mean?
# What does K.Y. mean?
Posted by: username_0 on 2015-08-07
There's this scene in *Nichijou* episode one where a Grim Reaper is asking everyone:

> Do you know what K.Y. means?

Nobody replies him, maybe because they're scared of him. Finally he asks another reaper dressed in blue, and he replies:

> Someone clueless, like you.

Is this supposed to be a joke? I don't really understand what happened.

[![Do you know what K.Y. means?](https://i.sstatic.net/sWRzXm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/sWRzX.jpg)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/hx7X9m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/hx7X9.jpg)
**Tags:** nichijou
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2015-08-07. Score: 12 | Accepted answer
K.Y. stands for *Kuuki Yomenai* or ["can't read the atmosphere/situation"](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/372/when-japanese-say-ky-on-the-internet-what-does-it-mean-exactly).

The joke is that the Grim Reaper does not realize that he is a scary sight in the human world, and that asking questions like that isn't appropriate. The second Grim Reaper knows what it means and is basically saying that he isn't reading the atmosphere.

Another translation could be "not taking hints" - like when you start cleaning up after a party and some of the guests *fail to read the atmosphere* and get ready to leave.

Reference: [Japan Talk - Why You Need To Read The Air in Japan](http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/kuuki-yomenai)
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