ほっそり

adverb, onomatopoeia

slender; slim; willowy

1. slender; slim; elegantly thin

Mimetic adverb describing a pleasingly slender figure or shape. Used for people's builds (waist, legs, arms) and occasionally for thin objects. Has a positive nuance, suggesting graceful thinness rather than unhealthy thinness.

ほっそりした腰(こし)。

A slender waist.

彼女(かのじょ)はほっそりとしていて背(せ)が高(たか)い。

She has a slender, tall figure.

産後(さんご)もほっそりしたスタイルを保(たも)っているのはすごいと思(おも)う。

I think it's amazing that she has maintained her slim figure even after giving birth.

Mimetic adverb with a positive nuance. Unlike simply 細い (thin), ほっそり implies a graceful, aesthetically pleasing slenderness.

Common collocations

ほっそりした体型(たいけい) — a slender build
ほっそりとしている — to be slim/slender (state)
ほっそりした指(ゆび) — slender fingers

Similar words

スリム: slim (loanword; neutral to positive, often used for clothing fit)
細(ほそ)い: thin, slender (neutral; can describe objects, not just people)
やせた: thin, skinny (can carry a negative nuance of being too thin)

Related Words

Compare: 細(ほそ)い (thin, slender (neutral)

Compare: すらっと (slender)

Compare: すらり (slenderly)

general

Added 2026.6.9 15:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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