あばたもえくぼ

Meanings

love is blind; even pockmarks are dimples (when in love)

usually written using kana aloneproverb

Proverb meaning that when you love someone, you overlook their flaws or even see them as charming. Often used to describe the blindness of affection.

彼かの女じょは彼かれの欠けっ点てんをまったく気きにしていない。あばたもえくぼというやつだ。
She doesn't mind his faults at all. It's a case of love being blind.
あばたもえくぼで、彼かれの無む口くちなところがかえって魅み力りょく的てきに思おもえる。
Love is blind—his quietness actually seems charming to me.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Kanji

痘pox, smallpox
痕mark, foot print
笑laugh
窪depression, cave in, sink
靨dimple

Related words

痘痕あばた
Means 'pockmarks' or 'small scars'. Used literally, not as part of the proverb.
笑え窪くぼ
Means 'dimples'. The proverb uses it figuratively to contrast with pockmarks.

Built from

あばた+えくぼ

Written forms

痘痕あばたも笑え窪くぼ
Kanji spelling using 痘痕 (pockmarks) and 笑窪 (dimples). Rare and literary.
痘痕あばたも靨えくぼ
Variant kanji spelling with 靨 for dimples. Very rare.
アバタもエクボ
kana-only spelling

Etymology

A traditional Japanese proverb. The literal meaning is 'even pockmarks are dimples', expressing the idea that affection makes flaws seem attractive. The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a common folk observation about love's power to transform perception.