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男前 (otokomae) Japanese meaning: handsome man | Kotomora
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He's really handsome, isn't he?
That actor is good-looking and also a skilled performer.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 は 男おとこ 前まえ だ someone is handsome/manly
He's quite a handsome guy.
男おとこ 前まえ な 〈 事こと 〉 manly, admirable (behavior, decision, etc.)
Everyone admired his manly decision.
男おとこ 前まえ になる to become handsome/more manly
He grew up to become a handsome man.
Related words イケメン is a casual, slangy word for a good-looking man focused on stylish looks, while 男前 can also praise manly, dependable character.
男らしい is an adjective describing manly behavior or attitude, close to the character sense of 男前 rather than its looks sense.
二枚目 describes a refined, gentle-looking handsome man (originally a kabuki role type), while 男前 can carry a rougher, more rugged nuance.
ハンサム is a borrowed, slightly old-fashioned word for handsome focusing purely on looks, whereas 男前 can also mean admirable manly character.
Written forms 男おとこ 前まえ Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and common usage.
オトコマエ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling used for emphasis or stylistic effect, especially in casual or advertising contexts.
Etymology Compound of 男 (otoko, 'man') and 前 (mae, 'front' or 'appearance'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of a man's outward appearance or presence.
