1.
to blow one's nose
To expel mucus from the nose by blowing into a tissue or handkerchief. An everyday action with a specific Japanese verb (かむ) that differs from the English concept.
The verb かむ here is written in hiragana (not 噛む, which means 'to bite/chew'). Though the kanji 噛む can technically be used, it is almost always written in hiragana in this expression to avoid confusion.
Cultural note
In Japan, blowing one's nose loudly in public is generally considered impolite. Many Japanese people prefer to sniffle rather than blow their nose in front of others, especially in quiet settings like trains or meetings.
Common collocations
- ティッシュで鼻をかむ: to blow one's nose with a tissue
- ハンカチで鼻をかむ: to blow one's nose with a handkerchief
- 鼻をかみすぎる: to blow one's nose too much