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.
その雑誌は猥褻な内容で発禁になった。
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.
彼はみだらな冗談ばかり言う。
He always tells salacious jokes.
Casual, widely used adjective for 'erotic' or 'sexy'. Can describe anything from a revealing outfit to a suggestive comment.
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?
Means 'sensational' or 'provocative', often used for media designed to stir up sexual interest. More about the effect than the content itself.
週刊誌の扇情的な見出しにうんざりする。
I'm fed up with the salacious headlines in weekly magazines.
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.
あのオヤジ、いつもスケベなことばかり考えてる。
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.
彼は好色な目つきで女性を見た。
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.
助平なことを言うんじゃない。
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'.
その小説には露骨な性描写がある。
The novel contains salacious sexual descriptions.
Similar to 露骨な, meaning 'overt' or 'undisguised'. Emphasizes that nothing is left to the imagination.
彼の話はあからさまに下品だった。
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.
この漫画は猥褻すぎて18禁だ。
This manga is too salacious and is restricted to adults.
あの水着、エロすぎない？
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.
タブロイド紙はその有名人について扇情的な噂を掲載した。
The tabloid published salacious rumors about the celebrity.
扇情的な emphasizes the provocative, sensational nature.
彼は同僚に猥褻な発言をして解雇された。
He was fired for making salacious comments to coworkers.
猥褻な is appropriate for formal/HR contexts.
He's a really salacious guy.