モテる

もてる
ichidan verb
to be popular; to be attractive
1. to be popular (romantically); to be attractive
To be well-liked or sought after, especially in a romantic or dating context.
モテたい。
I want to be popular.
彼(かれ)は女性(じょせい)にモテる。
He's popular with women.
学生(がくせい)時代(じだい)は全然(ぜんぜん)モテなかった。
I wasn't popular at all during my school days.

モテる comes from 持(も)てる (to be able to hold/have), meaning "to be held in regard" or "to be in demand." Usually written in katakana to emphasize its slang nature.

REGISTER:
This is casual/colloquial language commonly used when discussing dating and popularity.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • ～にモテる: to be popular with (a group)
  • モテ男(おとこ)/モテ女(おんな): a popular guy/girl
  • モテ期(き): a period when one is popular
  • モテたい: to want to be popular
  • 非モテ: someone who isn't popular (slang)
general
Added 2026.2.1 16:11
09000/09311_moteru