1.
portrait, likeness, caricature
A drawing or painting of a person's face, ranging from a realistic portrait to a humorous or exaggerated caricature. Commonly seen at tourist spots, events, and in police sketches.
似顔絵を描いてもらった。
I had my portrait drawn.
観光地で似顔絵を描く画家がいた。
There was an artist drawing caricatures at the tourist spot.
警察は目撃者の証言をもとに犯人の似顔絵を作成した。
The police created a composite sketch of the suspect based on witness testimony.
似顔絵 covers a wide range from realistic portrait sketches to exaggerated caricatures. The word is used both for entertainment (street artists at tourist spots) and for official purposes (police composite sketches).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 似顔絵を描く: to draw a portrait/caricature
- 似顔絵師: portrait/caricature artist
- 似顔絵を作成する: to create a composite sketch
- 犯人の似顔絵: suspect's composite sketch
ETYMOLOGY:
似 (resemblance) + 顔→がお (face) + 絵 (picture). Literally "a picture that resembles the face."
Distinct from 肖像画 (formal portrait painting), which implies a more artistic or official work.