Translation guide
How to talk about someone's attractive appearance in Japanese, from casual compliments to formal descriptions.
The speaker wants to say that a person has an attractive face or overall appearance, in a neutral or positive way.
A common, neutral word for a person with beautiful features. Can be used for any gender, though slightly more often for women. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts.
彼は美形だ。
He is good-looking.
美形の俳優が好きです。
I like good-looking actors.
Casual slang for a good-looking man. Very common in everyday conversation and media. Not used for women.
あの店員、イケメンだね。
That shop assistant is good-looking, isn't he?
Literally 'facial features are well-arranged'. A more descriptive and slightly formal way to say someone has good looks. Works for any gender.
彼女は顔立ちが整っている。
She has good looks.
A standard word for a beautiful woman. Very common, but specifically for women. Using it for men can sound odd or humorous.
彼の奥さんは美人だ。
His wife is a beauty.
A somewhat old-fashioned term for a handsome man, originally from kabuki. Still understood but less common in modern casual speech.
彼は二枚目だと言われている。
He is said to be a handsome man.
The speaker wants to tell someone they look good, often in a casual or friendly way.
The most common way to say someone looks cool/handsome/attractive. Used for men and sometimes women with a stylish or cool image. Very versatile.
今日はかっこいいね。
You look good today.
そのジャケット、かっこいい！
That jacket looks great on you!
Means 'pretty' or 'beautiful'. Used mainly for women, but can be used for men in the sense of 'beautiful features'. Also used for things like skin or eyes.
わあ、きれい！
Wow, you look beautiful!
Slang meaning 'cool' or 'good-looking'. Can be used for people or things. More casual and youthful.
その髪型、イケてるね。
That hairstyle looks good on you.
The speaker wants to discuss the concept of good looks in a more abstract way, such as its importance or effect.
Refers to beautiful looks, often with a nuance of elegance or striking beauty. Used for both men and women, but more commonly for women. Slightly formal/literary.
彼女は美貌で知られている。
She is known for her good looks.
A formal word for 'appearance' or 'looks', often used in contexts like job requirements or objective descriptions. Not a compliment by itself.
A casual, everyday word for 'appearance' or 'looks'. Can be used positively or neutrally. '見た目がいい' means 'good-looking'.
English 'good looks' is a noun phrase, but Japanese often uses adjectives or descriptive phrases instead of a single noun. Saying '良い見た目' is understandable but unnatural; use words like 美形 or phrases like 顔立ちが整っている.
美人 is specifically for women. 美形 is gender-neutral but slightly formal. イケメン is casual and only for men. Choose based on context and gender.
a person of good looks
Good-looking people have an advantage.