Meaning
The kanji 唇 (くちびる, シン) means lips. This character refers to the fleshy folds that frame the mouth, essential for speech, eating, and facial expressions. As an N1 level kanji, it is frequently encountered in more advanced contexts, particularly in medical, anatomical, or nuanced literary descriptions.
Its origin is generally understood as a phono-semantic compound. The top component, 辰 (たつ or シン), acts as the phonetic element, providing the character with its On'yomi reading of シン. While 辰 originally referred to the fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac (dragon) or a time period like dawn, in this context, its primary role is phonetic.
The bottom component visually resembles 止 (とまる, to stop). Semantically, however, this kanji is often associated with 肉 (にく, flesh). This connection is particularly evident when 肉 appears as the radical ⺼ (niku-zuki) on the left side of other body-part-related characters. In 唇, this bottom component is sometimes interpreted as a variant of 卩 (seal), or simply a visual element representing 'flesh'. Combined with the phonetic element, it forms the concept of lips – the fleshy part that 'stops' or encloses the mouth opening. The combination evokes the idea of the soft, movable flesh that forms the boundary of the mouth.
The kanji 唇 has 15 strokes. As an advanced kanji, it is not assigned a specific school grade level but is designated for JLPT N1 learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading for 唇 is primarily シン. This reading is typically used in compound words, especially in formal, medical, or academic contexts where the characters combine to form more complex terms. It maintains a strong connection to its Chinese origin and is less common in everyday spoken Japanese as a standalone word for lips.
口唇 (kōshin) — This term also means 'lips,' but it carries a more formal or medical nuance compared to the native Japanese reading. It's frequently seen in anatomical or pathological descriptions.
口唇の乾燥は冬によくある問題です。 — Dry lips are a common problem in winter.
外科医は患者の口唇を注意深く調べた。 — The surgeon carefully examined the patient's lips.
唇裂 (shinretsu) — Cleft lip, a congenital condition. This term is exclusively used in medical contexts.
唇裂は生まれつきの状態です。 — Cleft lip is a congenital condition.
口唇口蓋裂は手術で治療できます。 — Cleft lip and palate can be treated with surgery.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The primary Kun'yomi reading for 唇 is くちびる. This is the most common and natural way to refer to 'lips' in everyday Japanese conversation and writing. It is the direct word for lips, used in a broad range of contexts from simple descriptions to idiomatic expressions.
唇 (kuchibiru) — This is the standalone word for lips and the common term used for human lips.
彼女の唇は美しい赤色だった。 — Her lips were a beautiful red color.
寒くて唇が青くなった。 — My lips turned blue from the cold.
唇を噛む (kuchibiru o kamu) — To bite one's lip, often out of frustration, anger, or to suppress an emotion.
彼は悔しさで唇を噛んだ。 — He bit his lip in frustration.
言いたいことをこらえるため、彼女は唇を噛んだ。 — She bit her lip to hold back what she wanted to say.
Common Words & Compounds
For N1 learners, understanding 唇 in context is essential. Here are some common words and compounds, categorized by their usage:
General Terms and Anatomy
- 口唇 (kōshin) — Lips (formal, medical term). This is used when a more clinical or precise term is needed.
- 上唇 (uwakuchibiru) — Upper lip.
- 下唇 (shitakuchibiru) — Lower lip.
- 唇音 (shin'on) — Labial sound (phonetics). Sounds produced primarily with the lips.
Medical and Pathological Terms
- 唇裂 (shinretsu) — Cleft lip. A congenital deformity where the lip does not fully form during development.
- 口唇炎 (kōshin'en) — Cheilitis, inflammation of the lips.
- 口唇ヘルペス (kōshin herupesu) — Oral herpes, cold sores.
- 唇癌 (shingan) — Lip cancer.
Expressions and Actions Involving Lips
- 唇を噛む (kuchibiru o kamu) — To bite one's lip (out of anger, frustration, or to suppress speech).
- 唇を尖らせる (kuchibiru o toguraseru) — To pout, to make one's lips pointed (often in displeasure).
- 唇を拭く (kuchibiru o fuku) — To wipe one's lips.
- 唇が乾く (kuchibiru ga kawaku) — To have dry lips.
- 唇を重ねる (kuchibiru o kasaneru) — To kiss (literally, 'to layer lips,' often used in a more poetic or indirect sense).
Example Sentences
乾燥して唇が荒れてしまった。
Kansō shite kuchibiru ga arete shimatta.
My lips became chapped due to dryness.
彼女は怒りをこらえきれず、唇を固く結んだ。
Kanojo wa ikari o koraekirezu, kuchibiru o kataku musunda.
Unable to suppress her anger, she pressed her lips together firmly.
リップクリームを塗って唇を潤わせましょう。
Rippu kurīmu o nutte kuchibiru o uruowasemashō.
Let's apply lip balm to moisturize our lips.
思わず唇を噛んで、涙をこらえた。
Omowazu kuchibiru o kande, namida o koraeta.
I unconsciously bit my lip and held back tears.
彼女は魅力のない赤い口紅を唇に塗っていた。
Kanojo wa miryoku no nai akai kuchibeni o kuchibiru ni nutteita.
She was applying an unattractive red lipstick to her lips.
口唇ヘルペスは時々再発することがあります。
Kōshin herupesu wa tokidoki saihatsu suru koto ga arimasu.
Oral herpes can sometimes recur.
その歌手はマイクに唇を近付けて、優しく歌い始めた。
Sono kashu wa maiku ni kuchibiru o chikazukete, yasashiku utai hajimeta.
The singer brought her lips close to the microphone and began to sing softly.
寒さで彼の唇は紫に変色していた。
Samusa de kare no kuchibiru wa murasaki ni henshoku shite ita.
His lips had turned purple from the cold.
真実は誰にも語られず、私の唇の中で眠りにつくだろう。
Shinjitsu wa dare ni mo katararezu, watashi no kuchibiru no naka de nemuri ni tsuku darō.
The truth will remain unspoken by anyone, falling asleep within my lips.
Memory Tip
To remember 唇, try breaking it down into its components and associating them with its meaning. The top part is 辰 (たつ or シン), which is a phonetic component, but can also be linked to "dragon" or "dawn/time." The bottom part visually resembles 止 (とまる, to stop).
Imagine a dragon (辰) with powerful lips that can "stop" (止) a mighty roar or a stream of fire. Alternatively, think of the way lips "stop" food from exiting the mouth. Although the radical is technically 止, you can also connect the concept to the fleshy nature of lips. With the sound component 辰 (dragon/shin), picture the 'flesh' around a 'dragon's mouth' that makes the 'shin' sound and 'stops' things. This visual of a dragon's powerful, enclosing lips can help cement the meaning.