にきび（にきび、nikibi）
- pimple

にきび is the Japanese word for "acne" or "pimples." It refers to the skin condition characterized by inflamed or infected sebaceous glands in the skin, resulting in spots, blemishes, and bumps. These often appear on the face, back, and chest. The word encompasses various forms, from blackheads and whiteheads to more severe forms like cysts. It is a common dermatological condition, especially during adolescence.

⚫︎顔ににきびができました。 Translation: I got a pimple on my face. ⚫︎ 思春期はにきびに悩まされる人が多い。 Translation: Many people are bothered by acne during adolescence. ⚫︎ この洗顔料はにきびの予防に効果がある。 Translation: This facial cleanser is effective in preventing acne.

You can use にきび when talking about acne or pimples in general. It can be used in conversations with friends, family, or even doctors. It is a common word, so it's appropriate for everyday use. You can use it to describe having acne, asking about treatments, or talking about someone else's acne.

にきび is primarily written in hiragana. There is no kanji form commonly used for this word. The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is standard.

⚫︎ ニキビ (katakana, used especially when emphasizing it) ⚫︎ 吹き出物 (ふきでもの) - This is a broader term for skin eruptions, including acne, but also other blemishes.

There aren't direct antonyms, as にきび describes a condition. However, you could talk about "clear skin" (きれいな肌、 きれいな はだ) or "healthy skin" (健康な肌、 けんこうな はだ) as the opposite of having acne.

最近、顔ににきびがたくさんできて困っています。 ・Translation: Recently, I have many pimples on my face and I'm troubled. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the speaker's concern about the appearance of acne on their face.

にきびの治療のために、皮膚科医を受診しました。 ・Translation: I visited a dermatologist for acne treatment. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that the speaker went to a dermatologist to seek treatment for their acne.

The etymology of にきび is not definitively known, but it's believed to have originated from a combination of sounds and possibly from words related to skin conditions.