容姿コンプレックス
yōshi konpurekkusuInsecurity or complex related to one's physical appearance or looks.
彼は容姿コンプレックスがあって、写真を撮るのを嫌がる。
He has an insecurity about his appearance and hates taking photos.
容姿コンプレックスを抱えている人は多い。
Many people struggle with insecurity about their looks.
Often used in casual conversation to describe personal feelings about appearance. The term combines '容姿' (appearance) and 'コンプレックス' (complex/inferiority complex).
Collocations
Synonyms
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Avoid literal translation pitfalls
Do not translate '容姿コンプレックス' as 'appearance complex' or 'looks complex.' The phrase is best understood as 'insecurity about one's appearance' or 'feeling inferior about how one looks.' The term 'complex' in this context is borrowed from psychology but is used casually in Japanese.
⚡Gold Rule
Context matters
Use '容姿コンプレックス' to describe personal feelings about appearance, not to critique others' looks. It implies a subjective feeling of inadequacy rather than an objective assessment.
📖Word Origin
The term is a compound of '容姿' (yōshi, meaning 'appearance' or 'looks') and 'コンプレックス' (konpurekkusu, a loanword from English 'complex,' meaning 'inferiority complex' or 'obsession'). It emerged in Japanese as a colloquial expression in the late 20th century, influenced by Western psychological terminology.
📝Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts discussing personal insecurities, social media, or beauty standards. It is not typically used in formal or professional settings. The term 'コンプレックス' alone can sometimes carry a more clinical or serious connotation, but when combined with '容姿,' it softens to a more casual usage.