肉食系

• Reading: にくしょくけい
• Romaji: nikushoku kei
• Kanji breakdown: 肉 (meat) + 食 (eat) + 系 (type/category) → meat-eating type, metaphor for aggressive/proactive in dating
• Pronunciation: /ni.ku.ɕo.ku ke.i/

Meaning

Carnivore type — a person who is aggressive, bold, and proactive in romantic pursuits.

肉食系 is the opposite of 草食系 and describes people who actively and confidently pursue romantic interests. They are forward, flirtatious, and not afraid to make the first move. While it can describe both men and women, 肉食系女子 (carnivore women) became a notable trend, describing women who take the initiative in dating rather than waiting to be pursued.

Examples

1. あの子、肉食系だから気になる人にはすぐアプローチするよ。 That girl is the carnivore type — she goes after anyone she's interested in right away.
2. 肉食系女子ってかっこいいと思う。 I think assertive women in dating are pretty cool.
3. 見た目おとなしいのに中身は肉食系だった。 She looks quiet, but she's actually a carnivore type on the inside.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, media, dating discussion

Tone: descriptive, sometimes admiring

Do Say

• 肉食系の人ってリードしてくれるから楽だよね。 (Carnivore types take the lead, which makes things easier.)
• 最近肉食系女子が増えてるらしいよ。 (Apparently there are more assertive women in dating these days.)

Don't Say

• 「肉食系」をがつがつしすぎる意味で使うと失礼になる (Using carnivore type to mean someone is too aggressive/desperate can be offensive)

Common Mistakes

• Thinking 肉食系 is always a compliment — depending on context, it can imply someone is overly aggressive or pushy

Origin & History

Emerged as the antonym of 草食系 (herbivore type) in the late 2000s. Carnivore (肉食) metaphorically describes someone who actively 'hunts' for romantic partners.

Cultural Context

Era: Late 2000s, emerged alongside 草食系

Generation: All ages aware, often used about young adults

Social background: Cultural commentary term

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Often discussed alongside 草食系 as opposing dating personality types.