When I was in Japan for four months last year as an exchange student, I noticed something while I was hanging out with Japanese people. There were several times when I would be called “cute”. This didn’t bother me, of course — I am shorter and have a bubbly personality.
However, in America, we don’t call people cute unless we’re talking about an outfit (e.g. “Oh my gosh, you look SO CUTE!”), the person if very young or very old, or they are in a relationship. Usually people don’t call an adult cute unless they’re insulting you in some way. Or if they’re being creepy.
My question is if “cute” means something different in Japan? Is it normal for friends to call each other cute? Or were they teasing me?
by RiddlerofStIves