Japanese symbol for “face”
顔
かお
Romaji: kao
face; visage; looks; (facial) features
In Japanese, face is 顔, read かお (kao).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n face; visage; looks; (facial) features
- n look; (facial) expression; countenance
- n honor (honour); face; dignity
- n influence; notoriety; trust; pull; clout
- n representative; (the) face (of something); trademark; example
- n members; attendees; lineup; participants; everyone involved
Written forms: 顔、貌、顏. Readings: かお.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “face”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 面 | つら tsura | face; mug |
| 向かう | むかう mukau | to face |
| 建前 | たてまえ tatemae | face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts) |
| 表面 | ひょうめん hyoumen | surface; face |
| 面影 | おもかげ omokage | face; looks; countenance |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 笑顔 | えがお egao | smiling face; smile |
| 顔ぶれ | かおぶれ kaobure | personnel; members; lineup (of a team) |
| 素顔 | すがお sugao | face with no make-up; unpainted face |
| 顔色 | かおいろ kaoiro | complexion; skin tone; skin colour |
| 顔つき | かおつき kaotsuki | (outward) looks; features; face |
| 顔面 | がんめん ganmen | face (of person) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “face”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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