Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'fashionable' depends on whether you mean stylish in appearance, trendy/popular, or up-to-date. The most common word is おしゃれ, which covers personal style and looking good. For trendiness, 流行 (りゅうこう) is used, often in compound forms. Be careful with direct translations like ファッショナブル, which is less common and can sound forced.
彼女はおしゃれだ。
She is fashionable.
このカフェはおしゃれだ。
This cafe is fashionable.
Describing someone or something that has good taste in fashion, looks attractive and put-together.
The most common and natural way to say 'fashionable' in the sense of stylish or chic. Can be used as a noun or na-adjective. Often implies a sense of personal style and effort.
彼女はいつもおしゃれだ。
She is always fashionable/stylish.
あのカフェはとてもおしゃれな雰囲気だ。
That cafe has a very stylish atmosphere.
A casual, friendly term for a person who is fashionable or always well-dressed. Often used to compliment someone.
今日もおしゃれさんだね。
You're looking fashionable again today.
An adjective meaning stylish, chic, or tasteful. Often used for things like clothes, interiors, or designs. Slightly more refined or literary than おしゃれ.
洒落たジャケットを着ている。
He's wearing a stylish jacket.
A direct loanword from English. Used mainly in fashion industry contexts or to sound trendy, but can feel unnatural in everyday conversation. おしゃれ is preferred.
Overusing ファッショナブル can sound like 'Japlish'. Stick to おしゃれ for natural Japanese.
このブランドはとてもファッショナブルだ。
This brand is very fashionable.
Describing something that is currently popular or following the latest trends, not necessarily stylish in a timeless way.
The te-iru form of 流行る (はやる), meaning 'is popular/trending'. Used for fashions, songs, activities, etc. Very common in conversation.
今、この柄が流行っている。
This pattern is fashionable/trendy right now.
あの歌手は若者の間で流行っている。
That singer is popular among young people.
The noun 流行 (trend/fashion) used as a modifier. More formal than 流行っている. Often used in writing or news.
これは流行のスタイルだ。
This is a fashionable/trendy style.
Loanword from English 'trend'. Often used in fashion and marketing contexts. Can be combined with 〜の or used as トレンド入り (trending).
Noun form of 流行る, meaning 'trend' or 'fad'. Often used in compounds like 流行り物 (trendy thing).
Describing a person or thing that is current and not old-fashioned, often in a broader sense than just clothing.
Means 'modern style' or 'contemporary'. Used for fashion, music, design, etc. Implies being in tune with current trends.
彼の服装はとても今風だ。
His clothes are very fashionable/modern.
Loanword meaning 'modern'. Often used for architecture, art, or design. Can also describe fashion that is sleek and contemporary.
Literally 'not outdated'. A roundabout way to say someone is fashionable by negating the opposite. Useful when you want to avoid direct praise.
彼のセンスは時代遅れではない。
His taste is not outdated (i.e., he is fashionable).
おしゃれ describes inherent style and good taste, while 流行っている simply means something is currently popular. A person can be おしゃれ without following 流行, and something 流行っている might not be おしゃれ (e.g., a tacky trend).
彼女は流行を追わず、自分らしいおしゃれを楽しんでいる。
She enjoys her own style without chasing trends.
While understood, ファッショナブル is not a natural choice in most situations. It can sound like English forced into Japanese. Use おしゃれ for people and places, and 流行っている for trends.
それはとてもおしゃれな帽子だね。
That's a very fashionable hat.
このスタイル、今流行ってる？
Is this style fashionable now?
この色が今年のトレンドだ。
This color is this year's trend.
それは一時的な流行りに過ぎない。
That's just a passing fad.
This shop's design is modern and stylish.