Onyomi: ガン · Kunyomi: かお · Meanings: expression, face
Kanji for expression, face
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The kanji 顔 combines several meaningful parts. At the top is 彦, an old character that represented an elegant or distinguished man, someone with a noticeable appearance. Below that is 頁, the radical meaning “head” or “face.” In ancient writing, these parts together expressed the idea of a person’s outward look — the part of the head people recognize first. The elegant figure above and the head below formed the meaning of “face,” the part of oneself shown to the world. Over time, this combination became 顔, the kanji for “face,” appearance, and expression.
顔 mixes the idea of a distinguished figure (彦) with the head radical (頁), creating the meaning of the human face — the part of the head that shows identity and expression.
Think of a person with a striking appearance (彦) that draws attention straight to their head and face (頁). That memorable look is 顔 — the face you recognize instantly.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 顔 | かお | face, visage | common Noun |
| 顔 | かんばせ | countenance, visage | Noun |
| 顔つき | かおつき | (outward) looks, features, face, countenance, expression | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 顔色 | かおいろ | complexion, one's colour, one's color | common Noun |
| 顔負け | かおまけ | being put to shame, being outshone, being eclipsed, feeling embarrassed | common Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 顔見知り | かおみしり | acquaintance | common Noun |
| 顔面 | がんめん | face (of person) | common Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 顔合わせ | かおあわせ | meeting together, introduction | common Noun, Suru verb |
| 顔立ち | かおだち | looks, features | common Noun |
| 顔文字 | かおもじ | emoticon, smiley, kaomoji | Noun |