Translation guide
Describes something that is sexually suggestive, lewd, or intended to arouse. The Japanese options range from formal terms for obscenity to casual slang for perverted or horny behavior.
To describe content, remarks, or behavior that is indecent or intended to excite lust.
The standard adjective for 'obscene' or 'lewd', used in formal and legal contexts. Covers salacious material like pornography or indecent acts.
The magazine was banned for its salacious content.
Means 'indecent' or 'lewd', often implying a lack of moral restraint. Slightly more literary than 猥褻な.
He always tells salacious jokes.
Casual, widely used adjective for 'erotic' or 'sexy'. Can describe anything from a revealing outfit to a suggestive comment.
Means 'sensational' or 'provocative', often used for media designed to stir up sexual interest. More about the effect than the content itself.
To describe a person who is lecherous, lustful, or perverted.
The most common casual term for a 'pervert' or someone who is always thinking about sex. Can be used jokingly or seriously.
That old guy is always thinking salacious thoughts.
A more formal or literary term for 'lecherous' or 'lustful'. Often used in historical or descriptive contexts.
He looked at the woman with a salacious gaze.
Also applies to people, meaning 'horny' or 'perverted' in a casual sense.
A slightly old-fashioned or dialectal term for 'lewd' or 'lecherous'. Similar to スケベな but less common among younger speakers.
Don't say salacious things.
To describe detailed descriptions or depictions of sexual acts.
Means 'explicit' or 'blatant', often used for sexual content that is graphically described. Can also mean 'undisguised'.
The novel contains salacious sexual descriptions.
Similar to 露骨な, meaning 'overt' or 'undisguised'. Emphasizes that nothing is left to the imagination.
His story was salaciously vulgar.
猥褻な is formal and often used in legal or official contexts (e.g., obscenity laws). エロい is casual and subjective, used in everyday conversation to describe anything sexually appealing or suggestive. Using 猥褻な in casual chat may sound overly stiff.
This manga is too salacious and is restricted to adults.
Isn't that swimsuit too salacious?
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches all nuances of 'salacious'. Choose based on context: 猥褻な for obscenity, エロい for casual sexiness, 露骨な for explicitness. Avoid directly translating 'salacious' as 好色な unless referring to a person's character in a literary sense.
The tabloid published salacious rumors about the celebrity.
扇情的な emphasizes the provocative, sensational nature.
He was fired for making salacious comments to coworkers.
猥褻な is appropriate for formal/HR contexts.
その映画、ちょっとエロいシーンが多いね。
That movie has a lot of salacious scenes, doesn't it?
I'm fed up with the salacious headlines in weekly magazines.
He's a really salacious guy.