Translation guide
Describing a person's build as tall and slender, ranging from neutral to negative connotations.
Describe someone as tall and slim in a neutral or positive way, often implying an attractive or healthy build.
Describes a tall, slim, and graceful figure. Often used for both men and women. It has a positive, elegant nuance.
彼女はすらりとした体型だ。
She has a tall and slim figure.
Means slender or slim, often with a delicate or refined impression. Can be used for people or objects.
Describe a tall, lean build without strong positive or negative connotations, often implying a lack of excess fat.
Express that someone is unhealthily or unattractively thin and tall, like 'lanky' or 'gangly'.
Both mean slim, but すらりとした emphasizes height and elegance, while ほっそりとした focuses on delicate slimness and can be used for parts of the body or objects.
すらりとしたモデルのような体型
a tall, slim figure like a model
ほっそりとしたウエスト
a slender waist
Directly translating 'tall and thin' as 高くて細い (たかくてほそい) is grammatically correct but sounds unnatural when describing a person's build. Use the adjectives above instead.
He has slender fingers.
Loanword from English 'slim'. Commonly used in fashion and everyday conversation. Implies a healthy, attractive slimness.
スリムなジーンズがよく似合う。
Slim jeans suit you well.
Literally 'thin and long'. Can describe body parts or overall build. Neutral, but can sound slightly awkward if overused for people.
彼は細長い脚をしている。
He has long, thin legs.
Means tall and thin, often with a slightly awkward or gangly nuance. Can be neutral or mildly negative.
ひょろ長い若者が立っていた。
A tall, lanky young man was standing there.
Onomatopoeic word meaning bony, skinny, or scrawny. Often negative, implying too thin. Can be used for people or animals.
彼はがりがりに痩せている。
He is skinny and bony.
Means bony or angular. Describes a body with prominent bones, often implying thinness.
骨ばった手が印象的だった。
His bony hands were striking.
Describes a tall, thin, and weak-looking person or thing. Often used for plants or people lacking strength.
ひょろひょろした男の子だった。
He was a lanky, weak-looking boy.