やかん頭あたま

や

か

ん

あ

た

ま

Meanings

1

noun

bald head

Colloquial and slightly humorous term for a completely bald head, likening it to the smooth surface of a kettle (やかん). Often used in casual conversation.

彼かれは若わかいのにやかん頭あたまだ。
He's young but already has a bald head.

やかん頭あたまを隠かくすために帽ぼう子しをかぶっている。

He wears a hat to hide his bald head.

Kanji

頭head, counter for large animals
薬medicine, chemical, enamel
缶tin can, container, jar radical (no. 121)
罐steam boiler (left side only)
鑵steam boiler

Related words

はげ頭あたま
はげ頭 is a more direct and common term for a bald head, while やかん頭 is a humorous, metaphorical expression.
つるつる頭あたま
つるつる頭 emphasizes the smooth, shiny quality of a bald head, whereas やかん頭 focuses on the kettle-like shape.

Written forms

やかん頭あたま
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling. The kanji 頭 is read あたま here.
薬缶頭やかんあたま
Uses the full kanji for やかん (kettle). Less common than the mixed spelling.
薬罐頭やかんあたま
Uses the kyūjitai form 罐 for 缶. Rare and old-fashioned.
薬鑵頭やかんあたま
Uses the variant 鑵 for 缶. Very rare.

Etymology

Compound of やかん (kettle) and 頭 (head), from the resemblance of a bald head to a kettle's smooth, rounded surface. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a colloquial metaphor.