Translation guide
A small, raised spot on the skin, often red and inflamed. In Japanese, the most common word is にきび, but there are other terms depending on type and context.
にきびができた。
I have a pimple.
にきびを潰しちゃだめ！
Don't pop your pimples!
The learner wants to refer to a common pimple or acne in everyday conversation.
The standard, neutral word for a pimple or acne. Can refer to a single pimple or the condition in general.
顔ににきびができた。
I got a pimple on my face.
にきびが治らない。
My pimples won't go away.
A slightly more formal or medical term for a skin eruption, including pimples. Often used in written contexts or by adults.
ストレスで吹き出物ができた。
I broke out due to stress.
A technical, dermatological term for a comedo or pimple. Rarely used in daily conversation.
面皰は毛穴が詰まることで発生する。
Comedones occur when pores become clogged.
The learner wants to distinguish between types of pimples, specifically whiteheads or blackheads.
Literally 'white pimple', this refers to a whitehead (closed comedone). Common in skincare contexts.
白にきびは潰さない方がいい。
It's better not to pop whiteheads.
Literally 'black pimple', this refers to a blackhead (open comedone).
鼻の黒にきびが気になる。
I'm bothered by the blackheads on my nose.
The learner wants to specifically describe a pimple with pus, often a yellow or white head.
A medical term for a pustule, a pimple containing pus. Used in dermatology or formal descriptions.
膿疱ができると痛い。
It hurts when a pustule forms.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'festered pimple' or 'pimple with pus'. More colloquial than 膿疱.
膿んだにきびを潰してしまった。
I popped a pus-filled pimple.
The learner wants to use a casual, possibly cute or slangy word for a pimple, often among young people.
The same as にきび but written in katakana, often used in casual writing, manga, or by young people. It can feel slightly more informal or emphatic.
やばい、ニキビできた！
Oh no, I got a pimple!
An onomatopoeic word describing a small, isolated spot. Can be used metaphorically for a single pimple, often in a cute or self-deprecating way.
にきび is the everyday word for pimples, especially among younger people. 吹き出物 is broader, covering any skin eruption like rashes or hives, and is often used by adults or in formal contexts. If you're talking about teenage acne, stick with にきび.
若い頃はにきびに悩まされた。
When I was young, I suffered from pimples.
最近、吹き出物が増えた気がする。
Lately, I feel like I've been getting more breakouts.
English phrases like 'pimple face' or 'pimple cream' don't translate directly. Instead, use にきび顔 (pimply face) or にきび用クリーム (cream for pimples).
にきび用の薬を買った。
I bought medicine for pimples.
Ah, I've got another little spot.