Translation guide
The English word "chap" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: referring to a man or boy (British informal), describing cracked skin, and the verb meaning to crack or roughen. Less common meanings like a jaw or cheek are also included.
To refer to a man or boy in a friendly, informal way, typical of British English.
He's a nice chap. · Who's that chap over there? · Poor chap, he looks exhausted.
General word for 'man'. Can be used informally, but lacks the friendly nuance of 'chap'. Often used with いい (good) to mean 'nice guy'.
彼はいい男だ。
He's a good chap.
Very informal, can be friendly or slightly rough depending on context. Often used among close friends. Can sound dismissive if used carelessly.
Can be rude if used to refer to someone you don't know well.
あのやつは誰だ？
Who's that chap?
Formal word for 'male' or 'man'. Not used in casual friendly contexts like 'chap'.
あの男性は親切だった。
That chap was kind.
To describe skin that is dry, cracked, or roughened, especially from cold or wind.
My lips are chapped. · Chapped hands are common in winter. · This cream is good for chapped skin.
Past tense of 荒れる (to become rough/chapped). Commonly used for skin, lips, hands.
唇が荒れている。
My lips are chapped.
冬は手が荒れやすい。
My hands get chapped easily in winter.
Specifically means 'cracked' or 'fissured'. Used for severely chapped skin with visible cracks.
ひび割れたかかと
chapped heels
Onomatopoeic word for dry, rough skin. Often used for hands or lips that lack moisture.
手がかさかさだ。
My hands are chapped and dry.
To describe the process of skin becoming chapped.
My skin chaps easily in cold weather. · The wind made my lips chap.
To refer to the jaw or cheek, especially in older or technical contexts.
The wolf's chaps were bloody. · He had a scar on his chap.
Means 'cheek'. Not a direct translation of 'chap' but used in similar anatomical contexts.
彼の頬はこけていた。
His chaps were sunken.
Means 'jaw' or 'chin'. Sometimes used where 'chap' might appear in old texts.
彼は顎を撫でた。
He stroked his chaps.
The katakana word チャップ (chappu) is not used for the British 'chap'. It may refer to 'chap' in the sense of a cowboy's leather chaps, or be part of a name. Avoid using it to mean a man.
荒れた (areta) is the general term for rough, chapped skin. ひび割れた (hibiwareta) specifically means cracked with visible lines. Use 荒れた for everyday dryness, and ひび割れた when there are actual fissures.
冬になると肌がひび割れる。
My skin chaps in winter.