顔(かお)

かお
noun
face
body-part
1. face
The front part of the head, containing the eyes, nose, and mouth.
顔(かお)を洗(あら)いました。
I washed my face.
彼女(かのじょ)の顔(かお)が赤(あか)くなりました。
Her face turned red.
プレゼントをもらって、子供(こども)が嬉(うれ)しい顔(かお)をしています。
The child has a happy face after receiving a present.
顔(かお)をする = to have an expression
彼(かれ)の顔(かお)はどこかで見(み)たことがありますが、名前(なまえ)が思(おも)い出(だ)せません。
I've seen his face somewhere before, but I can't remember his name.
朝(あさ)、鏡(かがみ)で顔(かお)を見(み)たら、目(め)が赤(あか)くなっていて驚(おどろ)いたので、すぐに病院(びょういん)に行(い)くことにしました。
In the morning, when I looked at my face in the mirror, I was surprised to see my eyes were red, so I decided to go to the hospital right away.

顔(かお) refers to the face, and is used for both the physical face and facial expressions. Also used figuratively in many idioms.

Common expressions

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (expressions):

  • 嬉(うれ)しそうな顔(かお): happy face
  • 悲(かな)しそうな顔(かお): sad face
  • 怒(おこ)った顔(かお): angry face
  • 顔(かお)をする: to make a face, have an expression

Related words

Related Words

Related: 頭(あたま) (head)
Related: 目(め) (eye)
Related: 鼻(はな) (nose)
Related: 口(くち) (mouth)
Compare: 面(つら) (colloquial/rough equivalent)
Related: 肌(はだ) (skin, texture)
Compare: 容貌(ようぼう) (facial features)
Related: 額(ひたい) (forehead, brow)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 23:55 · Revised 2026.10.10 9:36
00500/00558_kao