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ニキビ (にきび, nikibi) Japanese meaning: pimple | Kotomora

ニキビ

に

き

び

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

General term for pimples and acne. Used in both casual and medical contexts.

顔かおにニキビができてしまった。

I got a pimple on my face.

ニキビの治ち療りょうには時じ間かんがかかる。

Treating acne takes time.

Usage patterns

ニキビができるto get a pimple
最さい近きん、額ひたいにニキビができた。
I recently got a pimple on my forehead.
ニキビを潰つぶすto pop/squeeze a pimple
ニキビを潰つぶすと跡あとが残のこりやすい。
If you pop a pimple, it tends to leave a scar.
ニキビが治なおるfor a pimple to heal
薬くすりを塗ぬったらニキビがすぐ治なおった。
After applying the medicine, the pimple healed quickly.
ニキビ跡あとが残のこるfor a pimple to leave a mark/scar
触さわりすぎるとニキビ跡あとが残のこることがある。
Touching it too much can leave a pimple scar.

Kanji

面mask, face, features
皰pimple

Related words

吹ふき出で物もの
ニキビ specifically refers to acne pimples, while 吹き出物 is a broader term for any skin eruption or rash, not limited to acne.
面めん疔ちょう
ニキビ is an ordinary pimple, whereas 面疔 refers to a severe, deep boil or carbuncle on the face that requires medical attention.
できものN1
にきび refers specifically to acne or pimples, while できもの is a broader term covering any kind of skin growth, from pimples to boils or tumors.

Counted with

個こN5
The all-purpose counter for small discrete objects, used when no more specific counter applies.
粒つぶN2
Used when referring to individual pimples as distinct bumps; 個 is the more general everyday choice.

Written forms

ニキビUsage61%
kana-only spelling
Usually written in katakana; the most common practical spelling.
にきびUsage39%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Hiragana spelling, also common.
面皰にきびUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Rare kanji form; a jukujikun reading. Not normally used in everyday writing.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. The kanji 面皰 is a jukujikun reading, where the characters were assigned for their meaning ('face' and 'pimple') rather than their usual readings.