How to Say Handsome in Japanese

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There are so many pleasant ways to describe a woman’s beauty: pretty, cute, gorgeous, the list goes on!

For a more masculine beauty, we can always use neutral terms such as ‘good-looking’ or ‘attractive’, and even ‘cute’ – but ‘handsome’ gives off a certain air of charm and manliness that a guy might like to hear from time to time.

Here we have put together a few words meaning ‘handsome’ in Japanese that you can use to gush about your crush or compliment your friends with!

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Ways to say ‘handsome’ in Japanese

Hansamu

ハンサム

Handsome

Perhaps the easiest to remember term for ‘handsome’ in Japanese is the romanised version of its English equivalent, which is hansamu (ハンサム / はんさむ).

This term is more on the polite side and is completely fine to use, though a younger crowd probably wouldn’t opt for this formal, old-fashioned term. They have their own lingo for talking about crushes and cute guys!

Kakkoii

かっこいい

Cool / handsome

Kakkoii (かっこいい) would be the cooler more hip way to describe a handsome or good-looking person!

Kakkoii literally translates as ‘cool’ or ‘stylish’. However, when used to describe a man it can give the impression that you think they are attractive!

A more casual, slangier way to pronounce kakkoii is kakkee (かっけー).

Example:

Sono kuruma wa kakkoii desu
その車はかっこいいです
そのくるまはかっこいいです
That car is cool

Example:

Kanojo no oniisan wa kakkoii desu ne!
彼女のお兄さんはかっこいいですね!
かのじょのおにいさんはかっこいいですね!
Her brother is handsome, right!

Ikemen

イケメン

Handsome man

Ikemen (イケメン / いけめん) is a Japanese slang term which is actually a compound word of iketeru (イケてる / いけてる) which means ‘cool’ and menzu (メンズ / めんず) meaning ‘men’.

It may be considered more intense than kakkoii, as it can come across as meaning ‘hot’, as opposed to just ‘good-looking’.

It is a popular term to use when describing good-looking idols who have that pretty, perfect visual.

Otokomae

男前

Handsome man

Similar to the previous term, otokomae (男前 / おとこまえ) is another word that means ‘handsome man’.

While ikemen focuses on a man’s outer appearance, otokomae describes the handsome ‘manliness’ of a man, whether that be through their looks or mannerisms.

Some people prefer a softer, feminine attractiveness in guys while others like a strong sense of masculinity, a traditional ‘hunk’, let’s say!

Miryokuteki

魅力的

Charming

Miryokuteki (魅力的 / みりょくてき) is used to describe both men and women who are good-looking.

Alternatively to being attractive in a cute or hot way, miryokuteki describes more of that traditional charming attractiveness, for those people who just possess that likeability factor.

It may be a good way to describe someone who is gentlemanly.

Example:

Kare wa miryokuteki na kaodachi wo shiteiru
彼は魅力的な顔立ちをしている
かれはみりょくてきなかおだちをしている
He has charming features

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