唇（くちびる、kuchibiru）
- lip

The word 唇 唇 (くちびる, *kuchibiru*) refers to the lips, specifically the fleshy folds surrounding the mouth of a human or animal. It encompasses both the upper and lower lips. It's a fundamental part of the face used for eating, speaking, and expressing emotions. ⚫︎ It is a body part, so it’s a noun. ⚫︎ It can refer to the whole lip area or a single 唇. ⚫︎ The word emphasizes the physical structure rather than functions like kissing.

⚫︎ 彼女の唇はいつも赤い。 Translation: Her lips are always red. ⚫︎ 彼は緊張して唇を噛んだ。 Translation: He bit his lip because he was nervous. ⚫︎ 赤ちゃんの柔らかい唇は可愛らしい。 Translation: The baby's soft lips are adorable.

This word is commonly used in everyday conversation. ⚫︎ You can use it when talking about someone's appearance, actions, or sensations related to the lips. ⚫︎ It can be used in formal and informal contexts. ⚫︎ It's suitable for describing both human and animal lips (though the context clarifies the subject). ⚫︎ It is important to know that 唇 is frequently used to describe a person, rather than referring to your own body part. * For yourself, people often use the word 口 (くち, *kuchi*) for the mouth, which includes the lips.

⚫︎ The standard way to write 唇 is using the kanji 唇, with the reading くちびる ( *kuchibiru*) in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎ The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is always written as "びる" .

There aren't direct synonyms for 唇 as it's a specific body part. However, words related to the mouth or expressions of it could be related. ⚫︎ 口 (くち, *kuchi*): Mouth (can encompass the lips). ⚫︎ 口元 (くちもと, *kuchimoto*): The area around the mouth. ⚫︎ 口ぶり (くちぶり, *kuchiburi*): One's manner of speaking or expression.

There are no direct antonyms for 唇.

彼女は美しい形の唇をしていた。 ・Translation: She had beautifully shaped lips. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the appearance of a person’s lips, highlighting their shape.

彼は唇を軽く噛んで、考え事をしていた。 ・Translation: He was lightly biting his lip, deep in thought. ・Explanation: This example shows how 唇 can be used to describe an action and convey a person's mental state.

The etymology of 唇 is not definitively known, but it is believed that the word is composed of: ⚫︎ 口 (くち, *kuchi*): Mouth. ⚫︎ 端 (はし, *hashi*): Edge or tip. ⚫︎ And then, "biru" is a common suffix.