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似顔絵 (にがおえ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
portrait ; likeness ; sketch of a face
A drawing or painting that captures a person's facial features, often done quickly or informally. Commonly used for caricature-like portraits at festivals or by street artists.
は
友とも
達だち
の
似に
顔がお
絵え
を
上手じょうず
に
描か
く
。
She is good at drawing portraits of her friends.
Written forms 似に 顔がお 絵え
Standard kanji spelling; the most common way to write this word.
似に 顔がお 画え
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 画 is not the standard character for this word. Learners should use 似顔絵.
Kanji 似 becoming, resemble, counterfeit 絵 picture, drawing, painting Similar words 肖しょう 像ぞう 画が A formal, often painted portrait, typically of a specific person. 似顔絵 is more casual and sketch-like, focusing on capturing a likeness quickly.
カリカチュア A caricature that exaggerates features for comic effect. 似顔絵 can be a simple likeness without exaggeration, though it may overlap.
Etymology Compound of 似顔 (にがお, 'likeness of a face') + 絵 (え, 'picture'). The term 似顔 itself is a combination of 似る (にる, 'to resemble') and 顔 (かお, 'face').