黒子(ほくろ)

黒子(ほくろ) refers to a small, dark spot on the skin (a mole or beauty mark). The word is usually written in hiragana (ほくろ) in everyday use.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

• 黒子(ほくろ)がある: to have a mole
• 黒子(ほくろ)を取(と)る: to remove a mole
• 泣(な)き黒子(ぼくろ): mole under the eye ("crying mole")
• 黒子(ほくろ)除去(じょきょ): mole removal

KANJI:
The kanji 黒子(ほくろ) uses 黒(くろ) (black) + 子(こ), but this reading is irregular (熟字訓(じゅくじくん)). In a different context, 黒子(くろこ) refers to a stagehand in kabuki theater who wears all black.

CULTURE:
Moles in certain positions — especially near the mouth (口元(くちもと)) or under the eye — are sometimes considered attractive features (チャームポイント) in Japanese and East Asian cultures.