Translation guide
The concept of making something white or lighter in color, including skin lightening, teeth whitening, and bleaching.
To make one's skin lighter or whiter, often for cosmetic reasons.
The standard term for skin whitening or brightening in cosmetics. Often used in product names and advertising.
This cream has a whitening effect.
Loanword from English, used for cosmetic whitening, especially in product names or treatments.
ホワイトニング美容液を使っています。
I'm using a whitening serum.
A more literal phrase meaning 'to make skin white'. Less common in product marketing but used in general conversation.
どうやって肌を白くするの？
How do you whiten your skin?
To make teeth whiter, usually through dental treatment or products.
The most common term for teeth whitening in Japan, used by dentists and in product names.
歯のホワイトニングをしたいです。
I want to get my teeth whitened.
A general phrase meaning 'to whiten teeth'. Used in everyday conversation.
歯を白くする方法を教えてください。
Please tell me how to whiten my teeth.
To remove color or make something white using chemicals.
The general term for bleaching or whitening fabrics, hair, or other materials.
漂白剤を使ってシャツを白くした。
I whitened the shirt using bleach.
A simple verb phrase meaning 'to make white'. Can be used for various objects.
この布を白くしたい。
I want to whiten this cloth.
Loanword for 'bleach', often used for hair bleaching or as a product name.
To make an image or part of an image whiter or brighter.
Used in the context of editing photos to make areas whiter.
写真の背景を白くする。
Whiten the background of the photo.
Means 'to brighten', often used when whitening also increases brightness.
画像を明るくして白く見せる。
Brighten the image to make it look whiter.
美白 (bihaku) is the traditional Japanese term for skin whitening and carries connotations of beauty and clarity. ホワイトニング (howaitoningu) is a loanword used for both skin and teeth whitening, often in commercial contexts. For teeth, ホワイトニング is standard; for skin, 美白 is more common in product names.
In some contexts, 'whitening' can be a sensitive topic due to historical and social implications. When discussing skin whitening, be aware that 美白 is a common beauty term in Japan and is not necessarily associated with racial connotations, but the nuance may differ from English usage.
髪をブリーチした。
I bleached my hair.