横顔(よこがお)

よこがお
noun
profile; side view of a face
1. profile; side view of a face
The appearance of a person's face as seen from the side.
彼女(かのじょ)の横顔(よこがお)が美(うつく)しい。
Her profile is beautiful.
窓(まど)の外(そと)を見(み)ている彼(かれ)の横顔(よこがお)を描(えが)いた。
I drew his profile as he looked out the window.
電車(でんしゃ)の中(なか)で隣(となり)の人(ひと)の横顔(よこがお)がふと目(め)に入(はい)った。
On the train, the profile of the person next to me suddenly caught my eye.
2. another side; different aspect
A less well-known side or aspect of a person, organization, or thing. Used figuratively.
都市(とし)の知(し)られざる横顔(よこがお)を紹介(しょうかい)する。
We introduce a lesser-known side of the city.
企業(きぎょう)の横顔(よこがお)を特集(とくしゅう)した記事(きじ)を読(よ)んだ。
I read an article featuring the different sides of the company.
この番組(ばんぐみ)では選手(せんしゅ)たちの意外(いがい)な横顔(よこがお)に迫(せま)る。
This program explores the surprising other sides of the athletes.

横顔(よこがお) literally means the side view of a face, in contrast to 正面(しょうめん) (front view). It also has a common figurative use.

SENSE 1 — PROFILE:

Often used in aesthetic or romantic contexts to describe an attractive profile. Common collocations:

  • 横顔(よこがお)が美(うつく)しい: to have a beautiful profile
  • 横顔(よこがお)を見(み)つめる: to gaze at someone's profile
  • 横顔(よこがお)を描(えが)く: to draw a profile

SENSE 2 — ANOTHER SIDE:

Figuratively, a lesser-known aspect of a person, organization, or place. Common in journalism and documentary writing:

  • 知(し)られざる横顔(よこがお): an unknown side
  • 意外(いがい)な横顔(よこがお): a surprising aspect
  • 企業(きぎょう)の横顔(よこがお): the profile of a company

FORMATION:
横(よこ) (side) + 顔(かお) (face). Note the rendaku: かお → がお.

general
Added 2026.3.23 13:36 · Revised 2026.3.28 12:50
18500/18795_yokogao