CHARACTER HOME PAGE

cheek
Kanji 2111
Variant: . For more information about this variant, see "Oddball Additions to the Joyo Set" in Thematic Explorations.

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

Learn how to talk about delicious food by mentioning cheeks that fall! See what full and hollow cheeks represent in Japan and how cheeks relate to smiling. Find out why people refer to cheekbones in connection with a verb that typically means "to stab." See why the Japanese once talked about fox pups' cheeks, and discover the figurative meaning of covering one's head with a cloth.

Revision history:

Feb. 23, 2022: 

  • p. 2, Etymology Box: Added a Henshall etymology and updated the Sears link.
  • p. 16: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Mar. 17, 2017: Originally published.

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Kanji PDF
Cover of essay 2111 on 頬, titled "Faintly Cheeky"
Mini Profile
JOYO ON-YOMI
None
JOYO KUN-YOMI
ほお
STROKES16
RADICAL頁 (181: big shell)
JLPTN1
HALPERN-/1460
HENSHALL-/1982
SPAHN9a7.2