Translation guide
Describes someone with well-developed muscles, a body type, or things related to muscles. Japanese uses different words for 'muscular' as a compliment, a neutral description, or in medical contexts.
彼女は筋肉質な体をしている。
She has a muscular body.
To describe a person (usually male) with a fit, strong, muscular build, often in a positive or admiring way.
Literally 'muscle quality', this is the most common and neutral way to say someone has a muscular build. Can be used for both men and women, but often implies a lean, defined physique.
彼は筋肉質な体型をしている。
He has a muscular build.
彼女は筋肉質で、とても引き締まっている。
She is muscular and very toned.
From 'macho', often used casually to describe a very muscular, bulky man. Can sound slightly humorous or exaggerated.
あの人はすごくマッチョだね。
That guy is really muscular, isn't he?
A simple, colloquial way to say someone has amazing muscles. Very common in casual conversation.
彼、筋肉がすごいよね。
He has amazing muscles, doesn't he?
A literary or formal term meaning 'brawny' or 'muscular and well-built'. Often used in written descriptions or to emphasize an impressive physique.
その選手は筋骨隆々とした体つきをしている。
The athlete has a brawny, muscular physique.
To refer to muscles as a body part, in medical, fitness, or biological contexts.
The standard way to say 'muscular' as in 'of the muscles'. Used in phrases like 'muscular system', 'muscular pain', etc.
筋肉の痛みがあります。
I have muscular pain.
筋肉の収縮
muscular contraction
A more technical or compound-use term for 'muscle'. Often appears in medical terms like 筋ジストロフィー (muscular dystrophy).
筋ジストロフィー
muscular dystrophy
To describe someone's body type as naturally or generally muscular, without necessarily implying extreme fitness.
Describes a sturdy, solid, well-built body. Often used for men with a naturally thick, strong frame.
彼はがっしりした体格だ。
He has a sturdy, muscular build.
Same as above, but used attributively. Very common.
筋肉質な人
a muscular person
English 'muscular' often translates to a phrase like 筋肉質な or 筋肉の rather than a single adjective. Using マッスル (massuru) is not standard Japanese.
筋肉質 is a neutral, standard term for a muscular build. マッチョ implies a bulkier, more bodybuilder-like physique and is more casual/slangy.