Translation guide
The behavior of a man who habitually pursues romantic or sexual relationships with many women, often in a way that is seen as insincere or predatory. Japanese has several words and phrases to describe this, ranging from formal to slang, and often implies a negative judgment.
Describing a man who habitually has casual relationships with many women, often while in a relationship or marriage.
A common, neutral-to-negative term for a man's pursuit of women for pleasure. Can be used for casual dating or extramarital affairs.
He was quite the womanizer in his youth.
I'm troubled by my husband's womanizing.
Refers specifically to cheating or infidelity. While it can apply to either gender, it's often used for a man's extramarital affairs. Implies a breach of trust.
He is a womanizer (lit. has a cheating disposition).
His womanizing was exposed and they divorced.
A colloquial, somewhat derogatory term for a man who seduces many women. Literally 'woman-deceiver' or 'womanizer'. Often used in a critical or joking way.
That guy is notorious for being a womanizer.
Loanword from English 'playboy'. Often used for a wealthy, charming man who dates many women. Can be less negative than other terms, sometimes even glamorized.
He's known as a playboy.
A formal, literary term for pursuing women for sexual pleasure. Rarely used in everyday conversation.
He is infamous as a womanizer.
Focusing on the behavior or skill of seduction, often with a negative connotation.
Literally 'to persuade/seduce women'. Describes the act of actively pursuing women with sweet talk.
He's always hitting on women.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'quick to make a move on women'. Implies a man who rapidly tries to get physically involved.
Refers to the act of picking up women, often on the street. Can be used as a verb (ナンパする). The person who does it is a ナンパ師 (nanpashi).
Nouns describing a man known for womanizing.
Literally 'woman-lover'. Can range from simply liking women to being a womanizer. Context determines the nuance.
He's always been a womanizer.
Literally 'color man', meaning a handsome man who is popular with women, often a womanizer. Can be used admiringly or critically.
A crude, slang term for a lecherous man. Strongly negative and vulgar.
女遊び (onna asobi) is a broader term for a man's pursuit of women for fun, which may or may not involve cheating. 浮気 (uwaki) specifically means infidelity or cheating on a partner. If the man is married or in a committed relationship, 浮気 is more precise.
He was a big womanizer when he was single, but he hasn't cheated since getting married.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'womanizing' in all contexts. The best choice depends on whether you mean the behavior, the person, or the act of seduction. Using 女遊び is a safe general option.
Be careful, he's quick to make a move on women.
He goes out to pick up women on weekends.
He's quite the ladies' man.
That dirty old man!