あばた

あばた
noun
pockmarks; pitted scars
body-part
1. pockmarks; pitted scars (especially from smallpox or acne)
Small, pit-like scars on the skin, historically caused by smallpox, but now more commonly referring to acne scars or similar skin conditions.
ニキビの跡(あと)であばたが残(のこ)った。
Pockmarks remained from acne scars.
あばたも笑窪(えくぼ)という言葉(ことば)がある。
There's a saying 'pockmarks are dimples' (love is blind).
昔(むかし)は天然痘(てんねんとう)であばたになる人(ひと)が多(おお)かった。
In the past, many people got pockmarks from smallpox.

あばた can also be written as 痘痕(あばた) in kanji.

Famous proverb

「あばたも笑窪(えくぼ)」(Pockmarks look like dimples to someone in love)
Meaning: Love makes faults look like virtues; love is blind.

Modern usage

While historically associated with smallpox (天然痘(てんねんとう)), which is now eradicated, the term is now mainly used to describe:

Related words

Related Words

Related: 凹凸(おうとつ) (unevenness, irregularity)
general
Added 2026.1.29 20:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
08500/08978_abata