The kanji character 顔 顔 primarily means "face," "expression," or "countenance." It refers to the front part of the head, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks, and it can also signify the outward appearance or expression a person displays. It is a fundamental kanji used to describe both the physical aspect of a face and the emotions conveyed.

・On-yomi (音読み): ガン (gan) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): かお (kao)

⚫︎ 顔写真 Translation: photograph; portrait; headshot ⚫︎ 顔色 Translation: facial expression; complexion; look (on one's face) ⚫︎ 顔を洗う Translation: to wash one's face

The kanji 顔 顔 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, keisei moji). The left side is 頁, which is the radical meaning "head." The right side is 工, which functions phonetically to suggest the sound. Together, they combine to form the character for "face." The component 頁 itself is a pictograph representing the head and face. The development shows a gradual simplification of the original form over time. The character emphasizes the importance of the head, and specifically, the face, in human appearance and identity.