Translation guide
Describes a body or body part that is slightly fat in a soft, rounded way. In Japanese, this is expressed through adjectives and descriptive phrases focusing on plumpness, roundness, or chubbiness, often with a cute or neutral nuance.
To describe someone (often a child or a cute character) or a body part (like cheeks, fingers, belly) as pleasantly plump or chubby.
A common, neutral-to-positive term for a soft, slightly plump body type. Often used for people, especially women and children, and can sound cute or affectionate.
I like a pudgy figure.
Describes a firm yet plump, fleshy body, often with a positive or sensual nuance. Used for thighs, arms, or a well-rounded figure.
Pudgy thighs.
Literally 'round and plump', often used for babies or cute animals. Emphasizes a healthy, chubby roundness.
The baby's pudgy arms.
Soft and plump, often used for cheeks, bread, or a gentle roundness. Can describe a face or body part that is pleasantly full.
Pudgy cheeks.
To refer to a particular part of the body (cheeks, fingers, belly) that is soft and slightly fat.
An onomatopoeic word for something soft and squishy, like a baby's cheek or a pudgy belly. Very common in casual speech.
This kid's cheeks are pudgy.
Describes loose, flabby fat that jiggles, often on the belly or under the arms. Slightly more negative than ぷにぷに.
Literally 'well-fleshed', a more formal or descriptive way to say a body part is plump or pudgy.
Pudgy fingers.
Words like 太った (futotta) simply mean 'fat' and lack the soft, slightly cute nuance of 'pudgy'. Use ぽっちゃり or onomatopoeia instead for a neutral or affectionate tone.
ぽっちゃり describes an overall soft, plump body type. むっちり implies firm, fleshy plumpness, often with a positive or sensual feel. ぷにぷに is for squishy softness, typically of a specific body part like cheeks or belly.
My belly has gotten pudgy.
二の腕がたぷたぷしている。
My upper arms are pudgy and flabby.