頬
cheeks, jaw
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
Kun'yomi
- ほお
- ほほ
Meaning
頬 centers on the fleshy sides of the face: the cheeks and the jaw area. It refers to the soft, rounded parts of the lower face.
Most common words using 頬
20 of 43- 頬ほおN3
cheek (of the face)
- 頬張るほおばる
to stuff one's cheeks; to fill one's mouth (with food)
- 頬っぺたほっぺたN1
cheek
- 頬骨ほおぼね
cheekbone; zygomatic bone; malar bone
- 頬白ほおじろ
meadow bunting (species of passerine, Emberiza cioides)
- 頬白鮫ほおじろざめ
great white shark; white pointer (Carcharodon carcharias)
- 頬ずりほおずり
rubbing cheeks together (as a display of affection); pressing cheeks together
- 頬杖ほおづえ
resting one's chin in one's hands
- 両頬りょうほお
both cheeks
- 信濃頬髭蝙蝠しなのほおひげこうもり
Shinano whiskered bat (Myotis ikonnikovi hosonoi); Hosono's myotis
- 双頬そうきょう
both cheeks
- 小頬骨筋しょうきょうこつきん
zygomaticus minor muscle
- 深山頬白みやまほおじろ
yellow-throated bunting (Emberiza elegans)
- 狐の子は頬白きつねのこはつらじろ
like father, like son; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree; fox pups have white cheeks
- 猿頬さるぼお
cheek pouch (monkey, squirrel, etc.)
- 猿頬貝さるぼうがい
Anadara kagoshimensis (species of ark clam)
- 豊頬ほうきょう
plump cheeks; attractive cheeks
- 銀頬蜜吸ぎんほおみつすい
little wattlebird (Anthochaera lunulata)
- 雪頬白ゆきほおじろ
snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
- 面頬めんぽお
face guard; visor
Study
Etymology
頬 combines 夾 (or its simplified form 夹), which likely contributes the sound, with 頁 (head), indicating a part of the head. The exact historical development of the left component is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 夹 looks like a person with something pressed between their arms, and the right side 頁 means head. Imagine pressing your cheeks between your hands on your head: that's the cheek area.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, picture a person with very round cheeks saying 'kyou' (like 'kyoh') in surprise, puffing out their cheeks: kyou -> キョウ.