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顔

face
Stroke count: 18

Readings

On readingガン
Kun readingかお
JLPT level: N3JōyōGrade 2

Meanings

  1. faceRtK
    彼は非常に怒って、顔を真っ赤にしていた。He was so angry, he was red in the face.tatoeba
    彼は彼女の顔をじっと見た。He stared her in the face.tatoeba
  2. expression
    彼は怒気を顔に表した。He looked black with anger.tatoeba
    彼は浮かぬ顔をしている。He looks gloomy.tatoeba
  1. visage
  2. looks
  3. (facial) features
  4. look

Synonyms

面

Popular Usage

笑顔顔付き

Radicals and components

Radical頁leaf
Components
How it's built
顔
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Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

lad · vase · stand up (立) · cliff (厂) · shape · head (首) · page · one (一) · ceiling (冖) · drop (丶) · shellfish · clam · oyster · eye (目) · animal legs (儿) · eight (八)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 1853

Compound words

笑顔えがお
smiling face; smile
横顔よこがお
profile; face in profile; face seen from the side; (personal) profile; (biographical) sketch
顔色かおいろ
complexion; one's colour; one's color; countenance; expression
顔面がんめん
face (of person)
似顔にがお
portrait; likeness
寝顔ねがお
sleeping face
新顔しんがお
newcomer; new face
真顔まがお
serious look (on one's face); straight face
素顔すがお
face with no make-up; unpainted face; true face (of a country, celebrity, etc.); real face; true picture
朝顔あさがお
Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil); picotee morning glory; ivy morning glory; funnel-shaped object; bell (e.g. of a trumpet)
童顔どうがん
child's face; childlike face; boyish face; baby face
顔ぶれかおぶれ
personnel; members; lineup (of a team); roster; cast (of a play)
顔つきかおつき
(outward) looks; features; face; countenance; expression
顔立ちかおだち
looks; features
似顔絵にがおえ
portrait; likeness; sketch (of a face)
泣き顔なきがお
crying face; face of a person who is crying
顔負けかおまけ
being put to shame; being outshone; being eclipsed; feeling embarrassed
顔を潰すかおをつぶす
to make someone lose face; to embarrass someone; to make someone look foolish
すまし顔すましがお
straight face; composed expression; nonchalant look
知らん顔しらんかお
feigned ignorance; pretending not to know; pretending not to recognize (someone); ignoring; unconcerned air
顔合わせかおあわせ
(preliminary) meeting; face-to-face introduction; costarring; appearing together; pairing (of performers)
顔なじみかおなじみ
acquaintance; friend; familiar face
顔見知りかおみしり
acquaintance
顔を出すかおをだす
to turn up; to make an appearance; to put in an appearance; to drop by

Kun Reading Examples

彼は彼女の顔から目を離さなかった。かお
He kept his eyes fixed on her face.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は放心した顔つきをしていた。
He had an absent look on his face.tatoeba
彼は怖い顔をして私を見た。
He gave me a stern look.tatoeba
彼は病気に違いない、顔色が悪いから。
He must be sick; he looks pale.tatoeba

Stroke Order

18 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 顔

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step