1.
charming; attractive; endearing
Describes a person (typically a woman, child, or pet) who is appealing in a warm, likable, lightly flirtatious way — not merely pretty but pleasant to be around. The word is a loanword from English 'charming' and has a somewhat old-fashioned, gentlemanly or complimentary tone; it is more often used in writing and by older speakers than in casual conversation among young people, who prefer かわいい, 魅力的, or すてき.
Loanword from English 'charming'. Used as a na-adjective: チャーミングな人 ('a charming person'), チャーミングだ ('is charming').
Usage
- Usually used to describe women, girls, children, or small animals. Applied to an adult man it can sound mildly ironic or stylized.
- Implies a combination of outward cuteness/prettiness and an attractive personality — more holistic than かわいい (which is more visual).
- Has a slightly dated or high-register feel in everyday conversation; common in fashion magazines, celebrity interviews, and reviews.
- The adverbial form is チャーミングに: 振る舞う ('to behave charmingly').
Common collocations
- チャーミングな笑顔: a charming smile
- チャーミングな女性: a charming woman
- チャーミングな性格: a charming personality
- チャーミングな仕草: charming gestures/mannerisms
- チャーミングに見える: to look charming
Similar words
- かわいい: cute — the everyday word for cute; broader and more visual, used freely for anything from babies to gadgets.
- 魅力的な: attractive; appealing — a stronger, more formal word, applicable to people, ideas, products, etc.
- すてき(な): lovely; wonderful — a positive aesthetic judgment, overlapping with チャーミング but broader (can apply to things, places, ideas).
- 愛嬌のある: having a pleasant, endearing manner — native Japanese near-synonym, emphasizing personality rather than looks.