Translation guide
Describes a face that looks young, innocent, or childlike. In Japanese, this is usually expressed with specific nouns or descriptive phrases rather than a direct translation.
Describing someone who has a youthful, innocent, or childlike facial appearance.
The most common and direct equivalent. Refers to a face that looks younger than one's actual age, often with a cute or innocent impression.
Referring to someone who has a baby face, often as a nickname or descriptor.
Do not translate 'baby face' directly as 赤ちゃんの顔 (akachan no kao), which means 'a baby's face' and refers to an actual infant, not a youthful adult face.
童顔 is neutral and widely understood. 幼い顔 can sound slightly critical if the person is expected to look mature. ベビーフェイス is trendy but may not be suitable in formal writing.
彼女は童顔だから、実年齢より若く見える。
She has a baby face, so she looks younger than her actual age.
童顔の俳優が人気だ。
Actors with baby faces are popular.
A loanword from English, used in casual or trendy contexts. Often associated with fashion or idol culture.
彼はベビーフェイスで、女子にモテる。
He has a baby face and is popular with girls.
Literally 'childish face'. Can imply immaturity or innocence, sometimes with a negative nuance if the person is expected to look more mature.
彼は幼い顔をしているが、実は30歳だ。
He has a baby face, but he's actually 30.
Means 'childish-looking face'. More explicitly compares the face to a child's, and can sound slightly negative if overused.
その俳優は子供っぽい顔で、高校生役を演じた。
That actor has a baby face and played a high school student role.
Can also be used as a noun to refer to a person with a baby face, though it's more common as a descriptor.
彼は童顔で、よく学生に間違えられる。
He's a baby face and is often mistaken for a student.
A person with a baby face, using the loanword. Common in casual speech.
あのベビーフェイスの人は誰？
Who is that baby face?