also: じょうしん
upper lip
Standard anatomical term for the upper lip in everyday and medical contexts.
She has a habit of biting her upper lip when she's nervous.
転んで上唇を切ってしまった。
I fell and cut my upper lip.
labrum
Only with reading じょうしん
Zoological term for the upper lip-like structure in arthropods and other invertebrates. Read as じょうしん in this specialized sense.
昆虫の上唇は、口器の一部を形成する。
The labrum of insects forms part of the mouthparts.
He bit his upper lip out of nervousness.
I fell and my upper lip swelled up.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling sometimes used for clarity or in children's materials.