頬(ほお)

ほお
noun
cheek
body-part
1. cheek
The fleshy part of the face below the eyes.
涙(なみだ)が頬(ほお)を伝(つた)った。
Tears ran down my cheeks.
頬(ほお)を赤(あか)らめた。
My cheeks turned red.
Blushing from embarrassment or emotion
赤(あか)ちゃんの頬(ほお)はふっくらしている。
The baby's cheeks are plump.
子(こ)どもが頬(ほお)を膨(ふく)らませて怒(おこ)っている。
The child is puffing out their cheeks in anger.
頬(ほお)を膨(ふく)らませる = to puff out one's cheeks (sulking/pouting)
冷(つめ)たい風(かぜ)が頬(ほお)に当(あ)たって、思(おも)わず目(め)を閉(と)じた。
The cold wind hit my cheeks and I instinctively closed my eyes.

Pronunciation

頬(ほお) and 頬(ほほ) are both standard; ほお is more common today and is the reading in compounds (頬骨(ほおぼね), 頬紅(ほおべに), 頬杖(ほおづえ)). Small children and casual speakers say ほっぺ or ほっぺた.

Common collocations

Common expressions

  • 頬(ほお)が落(お)ちる: (food) so delicious one's cheeks might fall off
  • 頬(ほお)をつねる: to pinch one's cheek (to check one is not dreaming)

Compounds

  • 頬骨(ほおぼね): cheekbone
  • 頬紅(ほおべに): blusher, rouge

Related Words

Related: 頬杖(ほおづえ)をつく (to rest one's chin on one's hand)
Synonym: 頬(ほほ) (same word, reading ほほ)
core
Added 2026.1.12 21:24 · Revised 2026.10.18 9:25
03500/03717_hoo