モテ期 (Moteki) Meaning “When You Become Popular with Guys/Girls”

Definition

モテ期 (もてき, moteki) is a Japanese slang word that means a period of time when you suddenly become モテモテ (very popular) with people of the gender you’re attracted to. In Japan, it is often said that everyone experiences their Moteki three times in their entire life – some people haplessly use up their moteki before puberty, while others are lucky enough to become popular out of the blue with guys/girls in their young adulthood and find an ideal partner. A lot of people, however, are highly doubtful about this “theory”, saying that they’ve never experienced モテ期 ever since they were born, and that some people (e.g. イケメン: good-looking men) unequivocally enjoy much more モテ期 than they do.

Based on this term, there is also a famous Japanese manga/anime called “モテキ (moteki)” (as well as a film and TV series based on this work). In this story, a man who has never had a girlfriend suddenly experiences his moteki when he’s about to turn 30, and suddenly becomes very popular with lots of girls (e.g. contacted by several women from his past).

Example

俺(おれ)のモテ期はいつ来(く)るんだろう…
I wonder when my moteki will come…

Related Words

• モテる: popular with men/women
• モテない/非(ひ)モテ: unpopular
• モテモテだ: very popular

(e.g.)

女(おんな)の子(こ)にモテたい

I want to be popular with girls

彼女 (かのじょ) は男 (おとこ) にモテモテだ

She is very popular with guys

俺(おれ)は非(ひ)モテだから、合（ごう）コンに行（い）っても彼女ができなかった。

Because I’m unpopular with girls,  I couldn’t make a girlfriend even though I went to 合コン.

(cf.) 合コン (a Japanese-style group blind date)

What’s 合コン (gōkon) and 街コン (machikon) in Japanese

See Also

Essential Japanese Words and Idioms about Love/Romance

Idiom 高嶺の花 (takane no hana) Meaning “Out of Your League”