How to say "skinny" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- prenominal modifier, nounCovers the fashion sense only: skinny jeans and similar tight-fitting clothing. It is not used for a skinny person, so for people you need one of the other words.
- 痩せぎすやせぎすno-adjective, na-adjectiveA colloquial way to describe a skinny person, often with a slightly critical or teasing feel about someone being too thin. It is less common, so learners will rarely hear it.
- か細いかぼそいi-adjectiveDescribes a person as thin and skinny with an added nuance of frailty or delicacy, as if the body looks weak. Best for someone whose thinness seems fragile rather than merely slim.
- 痩せたやせたprenominal modifierThe plain everyday choice for a thin or skinny person, neutral in tone. It also covers slim, so it works for most descriptions of a person's body, though it is not used for clothing like jeans.
Use 「スキニー」 for skinny jeans and other clothing; for a skinny person, 「痩せた」 is the everyday choice, 「か細い」 suggests frail thinness, and 「痩せぎす」 is a less common colloquial word.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
