ニキビ

• Reading: ニキビ
• Romaji: nikibi
• Pronunciation: /ni.ki.bi/

Meaning

Acne; pimples that appear on the face or body, a universal skin concern especially among teenagers.

ニキビ is the standard colloquial term for acne in Japanese, used far more commonly than the medical term 尋常性ざ瘡. In a culture that highly values clear skin, ニキビ is a major source of stress, especially for teens and young adults. A distinction is often made between 思春期ニキビ (teenage acne) and 大人ニキビ (adult acne), each with different perceived causes and treatments. The Japanese skincare market offers countless ニキビ-specific products.

Examples

1. おでこにニキビできて最悪、明日デートなのに。 I got a pimple on my forehead, this is the worst — I have a date tomorrow.
2. 大人ニキビって思春期のとは原因が違うらしいよ。 Apparently adult acne has different causes from teenage acne.
3. ニキビ跡を消したくて皮膚科に通ってる。 I've been going to a dermatologist to get rid of my acne scars.

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, beauty, skincare

Tone: frustrated, concerned

Do Say

• ニキビにはむやみに触らない方がいいよ。 (You shouldn't touch your pimples carelessly.)
• ニキビ跡がなかなか消えなくて悩んでる。 (I'm struggling because my acne scars won't fade.)

Don't Say

• 人のニキビを指摘したりからかったりしない — 特に思春期の子にはデリケート (Don't point out or tease someone about their acne — it's especially sensitive for teenagers)

Common Mistakes

• Using 吹き出物 (adult blemish) interchangeably with ニキビ — traditionally, 吹き出物 implies being past the age for 'normal' acne, so some adults prefer ニキビ to avoid feeling old

Origin & History

Believed to derive from an older Japanese word にきみ (a type of skin bump). Has been in common use for centuries as the colloquial term for pimples and acne.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional term, always used

Generation: All ages, especially teens and young adults

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Japanese pharmacy chains devote significant shelf space to ニキビ treatments, and dermatology clinics specializing in acne are common.