可愛い — meaning in English

English meaning

• adorable adj So cute or charming that it inspires affection.
• cute adj Attractive in a charming, often small or youthful way.
• pretty adj Attractive or pleasant to look at, especially in a delicate or charming way.
• sweet adj Having the taste of sugar; not sour, salty, or bitter.

Senses

可愛い is used for these senses in English:

• adorable Befitting of being adored; cute or loveable.
• cute Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior.
• guilty conscience A feeling of guiltiness, as if one has done something wrong.
• kawaii (chiefly, in the context of Japanese culture, ACG) Cute, adorable.
• pretty Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children. [from 15th c.]
• sweet Of a pleasing disposition.

cute — full definition

1. adj Attractive in a charming, often small or youthful way.
2. adj Trying too hard to be clever or charming, in a way that can seem forced.

Related Japanese words