Translation guide
A lentigo is a small, flat, brown spot on the skin, often caused by sun exposure. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is しみ (shimi), which broadly covers age spots, sun spots, and freckles. Medical contexts may use 黒子 (hokuro) or the loanword レンティゴ (rentigo).
The speaker wants to refer to a small, flat, brown skin spot, typically from sun exposure or aging, in everyday conversation.
The most common and natural word for any flat brown spot on the skin, including age spots, sun spots, and freckles. Used in daily conversation and cosmetics.
I got a brown spot on my face.
I want to get rid of this spot.
Katakana version of しみ, often used in cosmetics advertising or product names for emphasis.
anti-spot cream
The speaker needs a precise medical term, such as in a dermatology context.
Technically means 'mole' or 'nevus', but can be used for lentigo in medical contexts. Be aware that ほくろ usually implies a raised or darker mole, not necessarily a flat lentigo.
In everyday language, ほくろ is understood as a mole, not a flat spot. Use しみ for flat brown spots.
This mole is benign.
Direct loanword from English 'lentigo', used only in specialized medical literature. Not understood by general public.
Senile lentigo is a pigmented spot due to aging.
The speaker wants to specify a spot caused by sun exposure, often on sun-exposed areas.
しみ (shimi) is a general term for flat brown spots (age spots, sun spots, freckles). そばかす (sobakasu) specifically means freckles, often genetic and appearing in youth. ほくろ (hokuro) means mole, usually raised or darker. For lentigo, しみ is the best everyday word.
Her freckles are cute.
I have a big mole on my back.
The English word 'lentigo' is highly technical. In Japanese, using レンティゴ will not be understood outside medical contexts. Always prefer しみ for general use.