1.
throat; front of the neck
The front part of the throat, from the base of the chin to the upper chest. Used both literally and in many figurative expressions.
喉元まで出かかっている。
It's on the tip of my tongue.
熱いものが喉元を通った。
Something hot passed through my throat.
喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れるというが、あの苦しさは忘れられない。
They say you forget the pain once it passes, but I can never forget that suffering.
Composed of 喉 (throat) + 元 (area around). Refers to the front of the throat, a vulnerable and sensitive area. Appears in several well-known proverbs and idiomatic expressions.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる: once the heat passes the throat, you forget the pain — people quickly forget hardship once it's over
- 喉元まで出かかる: to be on the tip of one's tongue — almost able to recall something
- 喉元に突きつける: to hold (a blade) to someone's throat — to press someone hard
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 喉: throat — the general body part; 喉元 emphasizes the front surface area
- 胸元: chest area — slightly lower, around the upper chest and neckline
- 首元: neck area — the area around the neck, including the sides and back