イケメン

いけめん
noun
good-looking guy, handsome man
1. good-looking guy, handsome man
A man who is attractive in appearance. Combination of イケてる (cool/attractive) and メン (men/face).
彼(かれ)はイケメンだよね。
He's a good-looking guy, isn't he?
イケメン俳優(はいゆう)がドラマに出(で)ている。
A handsome actor is in the drama.
この店(みせ)はイケメンの店員(てんいん)が多(おお)い。
This shop has many good-looking staff members.

イケメン is slang for a good-looking or handsome man, widely used in modern Japanese.

ORIGIN:
Combination of イケてる (cool, attractive) + メン (men or 面(めん) face). Emerged in the late 1990s and became mainstream in the 2000s.

USAGE:

FEMALE EQUIVALENTS:

  • イケジョ: (less common) attractive woman
  • 美人(びじん): beautiful woman (traditional term)
  • 美女(びじょ): beautiful woman

RELATED SLANG:

  • フツメン: average-looking guy
  • ブサメン: ugly guy (somewhat rude)
  • 塩顔(しおがお): 'salty face' (delicate features)
  • 醤油顔(しょうゆがお): 'soy sauce face' (traditional Japanese look)

REGISTER:
Informal/casual. Fine among friends but too casual for formal situations.

general
Added 2026.1.16 8:51 · Revised 2026.6.3 1:09
04500/04761_ikemen