「目は口ほどに物を言う」— "The eyes say as much as the mouth." Japanese is full of idioms involving facial features. Learning these kanji isn't just about reading — it's about understanding how the Japanese express emotions through body language metaphors.
This article teaches you 20 head and face kanji.
Core Kanji Table
The Head
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 頭 | トウ (tō) | あたま (atama) | head | 頭 (あたま, head), 頭痛 (ずつう, headache) | 頭がいい = smart |
| 顔 | ガン (gan) | かお (kao) | face | 顔 (かお, face), 笑顔 (えがお, smiling face) | 笑顔 = smile |
| 首 | シュ (shu) | くび (kubi) | neck / chief | 首 (くび, neck), 首相 (しゅしょう, prime minister) | 首相 = PM |
| 髪 | ハツ (hatsu) | かみ (kami) | hair | 髪 (かみ, hair), 髪型 (かみがた, hairstyle) | 散髪 = haircut |
| 脳 | ノウ (nō) | — | brain | 脳 (のう, brain), 頭脳 (ずのう, brains) | 頭脳 = brains/intellect |
| 頸 | ケイ (kei) | くび (kubi) | cervical | 頸椎 (けいつい, cervical vertebra), 頸動脈 (けいどうみゃく, carotid artery) | Mostly medical |
Sense Organs
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 目 | モク (moku) | め (me) | eye | 目 (め, eye), 目的 (もくてき, purpose) | 目的 = purpose |
| 眼 | ガン (gan) | まなこ (manako) | eye (formal) | 眼鏡 (めがね, glasses), 眼科 (がんか, ophthalmology) | 眼鏡 = glasses |
| 瞳 | ドウ (dō) | ひとみ (hitomi) | pupil | 瞳 (ひとみ, pupil/eye), 瞳孔 (どうこう, pupil) | ひとみ is a common name |
| 耳 | ジ (ji) | みみ (mimi) | ear | 耳 (みみ, ear), 耳鳴り (みみなり, tinnitus) | 耳鳴り = ringing in ears |
| 口 | コウ (kō) | くち (kuchi) | mouth | 口 (くち, mouth), 人口 (じんこう, population) | 人口 = population |
| 鼻 | ビ (bi) | はな (hana) | nose | 鼻 (はな, nose), 鼻血 (はなぢ, nosebleed) | 花 vs 鼻: both read はな! |
| 歯 | シ (shi) | は (ha) | tooth | 歯 (は, tooth), 歯医者 (はいしゃ, dentist) | 歯医者 = dentist |
Facial Details
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 眉 | ビ (bi) | まゆ (mayu) | eyebrow | 眉 (まゆ, eyebrow), 眉毛 (まゆげ, eyebrow hair) | 眉唾 = dubious/suspicious |
| 額 | ガク (gaku) | ひたい (hitai) | forehead / amount | 額 (ひたい, forehead), 金額 (きんがく, monetary amount) | Two meanings! |
| 頬 | キョウ (kyō) | ほお (hoo)・ほほ (hoho) | cheek | 頬 (ほお, cheek), 頬杖 (ほおづえ, chin rest) | 頬杖 = resting chin on hand |
| 唇 | シン (shin) | くちびる (kuchibiru) | lip | 唇 (くちびる, lips), 口唇 (こうしん, lips) | 口唇 = lips (formal) |
| 喉 | コウ (kō) | のど (nodo) | throat | 喉 (のど, throat), 咽喉 (いんこう, pharynx) | 喉が渇く = to be thirsty |
| 舌 | ゼツ (zetsu) | した (shita) | tongue | 舌 (した, tongue), 舌打ち (したうち, clicking tongue) | 舌打ち = tsk! |
Body Part Idioms
Japanese has an incredible number of idioms involving facial features:
| Idiom | Reading | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 目が高い | めがたかい | eyes are high | having good taste/eye for quality |
| 目を丸くする | めをまるくする | make eyes round | be wide-eyed with surprise |
| 耳が痛い | みみがいたい | ears hurt | painful truth (don't want to hear it) |
| 口が堅い | くちがかたい | mouth is hard | able to keep secrets |
| 口が軽い | くちがかるい | mouth is light | can't keep a secret |
| 鼻が高い | はながたかい | nose is high | proud/boastful |
| 首を長くする | くびをながくする | stretch one's neck | eagerly await |
| 頭が固い | あたまがかたい | head is hard | stubborn/inflexible |
目 vs 眼: When to Use Which?
| 目 (め) | 眼 (まなこ/め) | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily speech | 目が大きい (big eyes) | Rarely used |
| Compounds | 目的, 目標, 科目 | 眼鏡, 眼科, 眼球 |
| Figurative | 目が高い (good taste) | 眼力 (がんりき, discernment) |
| Usage | Everyday, all-purpose | Medical/formal contexts |
Simple rule: Use 目 in daily life, use 眼 at the eye doctor.
Practice
Q1. What does 「目は口ほどに物を言う」 mean?
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"The eyes say as much as the mouth." It means your gaze can communicate just as much as words. This famous Japanese proverb emphasizes the importance of non-verbal communication.
Q2. Is 「鼻が高い」 a compliment or criticism?
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Depends on context. It can mean "proud/boastful" (slightly negative) or "proud of someone" (positive). Example: 「息子が東大に受かって、鼻が高い」 = "My son got into Tokyo University — I'm so proud."
Q3. How many meanings does 額 have?
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Two. 額 (ひたい) = forehead (body part), 金額 (きんがく) = monetary amount. Different readings, different meanings.
Q4. What do 花 and 鼻 have in common?
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Both read はな! 花 (はな) = flower, 鼻 (はな) = nose. In spoken Japanese, you rely on context to tell them apart.
Q5. Besides "neck," what extended meaning does 首 have?
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Chief/first. 首相 (しゅしょう) = prime minister, 首都 (しゅと) = capital city, 首位 (しゅい) = first place. Like English "head" in "head of state."
Summary
- Head and face kanji are essential for describing people — 目, 耳, 口, 鼻 are used daily
- Facial feature idioms are a Japanese treasure: 目が高い, 耳が痛い, 口が堅い
- 目 vs 眼: use 目 for everyday speech, 眼 for medical/formal contexts
- 額 has two meanings: forehead AND monetary amount — distinguished by reading
- Next up: Body parts — learn kanji like 体, 手, 足, 骨