Talking about Appearance

(Berbicara tentang Penampilan)

Some people may ask you one’s appearance to get clues about somebody. While you are describing a personal appearance, especially other people,
ensure you describe them correctly. You should not hurt people feeling.

Some questions asking about personal appearance:

1. Do you know …? (Apakah kamu mengenal …?)
2. I do not know … Would you like to tell how he looks like? (Aku tidak mengenal … Maukah kamu memberitahuku bagaimana dia terlihat?)
3. Would you like to describe … (name)’s appearance? (Maukah kamu menggambarkan penampilannya?)
4. What does he look like? (Dia terlihat seperti apa?)

Body (Height) Body (Type/Shape) Hair (Colour) Hair (Length/Texture)

e.g. His body is short. e.g. He is thin. e.g. My hair is black. e.g. My hair is wavy.
short pendek slender ramping white putih bald botak
tall tinggi slim ramping grey abu-abu short pendek
of average height lean kurus berotot (sehat) platinum blonde pirang platinum bob pendek (setelinga)
rata-rata
of medium height petite kurus (mungil) blonde pirang shoulder-length sebahu
average rata-rata slight sangat kurus golden emas medium-length rata-rata
around … sekitar … lanky kurus (kerempeng) dirty blonde pirang kecoklatan long panjang
very … sangat … curvy strawberry blonde pirang kejinggaan straight lurus
quite … cukup … curvaceous berisi ginger jingga wavy berkelombang
womanly red merah curly keriting
voluptuous berisi (dada/bokong) mousy brown coklat terang afro sangat keriting
stout pendek dan gemuk brunette coklat
Muscular Berotot
Well-built Tegap
Skin (Colour) Nose (Shape) Face (Shape) Facial Features General (Appearance)
e.g. I am tanned. e.g. My nose is button e.g. My face is heart-shaped e.g. I have no mustache e.g. He is manly.
white putih big besar oval oval beard jenggot attractive menarik
pale pucat small kecil round bundar mustache kumis beautiful cantik/menawan
fair natural crooked bengkok heart-shaped berbentuk hati pimples jerawat stunning mempesona
whitish kecoklatan straight Lurus square tegas (rahang) mole tahi lalat handsome (male) ganteng (laki-laki)
tanned/tan kecoklatan button kecil/mini dimples lesung pretty (female) cantik (perempuan)
brown coklat turned-up naik pipi masculine jantan
black hitam hooked turun Chiseled kempot feminine feminim
dark-skinned hitam sharp mancung features boyish/girly kekanak-kanakan
Wrinkles kerutan manly/womanly gagah/anggun
Hair
S + have/has + (Hair Colour) + hair.
e.g. I have black hair.

S + (to be) + (Hair Colour)-haired.

e.g. I am black-haired.

Eyes
S + have/has + (Eye Colour) + eyes.
e.g. I have black eyes.

S + (to be) + (Eye Colour)-eyed.

e.g. I am black-eyed.

Note:

To describe your hair (length), you may also use.

“My hair goes down to my …” (Rambut ku se…ku)

Avoid these following words while you are describing one’s appearance.
fat (gemuk), plump (montok), cubby (tembem), round (bundar), large (besar), big (besar), heavy (berat), overweight (kegemukan), obese (kegemukan),
underweight (kekurusan), skinny (kurus sekali), bony (kurus sampai tulangnya kelihatan).

A complete example:

He is Jack. He is around 170 cm and lean. He has a black short hair. His skin is fair. He has a straight nose. His face is oval. He has no dimples but pimples. Overall,
he is attractive and mainly.
Dia adalah Jack. Dia sekitar 170 cm dan kurus berotot. Dia memiliki rambut hitam yang pendek. Kulitnya normal. Dia memiliki hidung yang lurus. Wajahnya oval.
Dia tidak memiliki lesung pipi melainkan jerawat. Secara keseluruhan, dia menarik dan jantan.
Additional vocabulary:
Wrinkled (Berkerut)
Freckled (Berbintik kecokelatan)
Ruddy (Kemerahan)
Sallow (Kekuningan)
Tanned (Berwarna kecokelatan)
Rosy/fresh-faced (Putih merona)
Pale (Putih pucat)
Fair (Putih)
Spotless (Tidak berbintik)
Silky / Smooth / Creamy (Lembut)
Dewy (Bersinar)
Baby-soft (Lembut seperti bayi)
Glowing (Bersinar merona)
Sunburned (Terbakar matahari)
Peeling (Terkelupas)
Rough (Kasar)
Calloused (Kapalan)
Squinty (Sipit)
Crinkly (Berkerut)
Braids (Kepang)
Ponytail (Kuncir kuda)
Pigtails (Ikat dua)
Gelled (Menggunakan gel rambut)
Permed (Dikeritingkan)
Dyed/Colored (Diwarnai)