団子鼻
dangobana
In Japanese, 'big nose' can be translated as 団子鼻 (dangobana).
While often translated as 'big nose', 団子鼻 specifically refers to a bulbous nose that is rounded and fleshy at the tip, rather than simply a nose of large proportions.
How do you pronounce it?
dangobana
Did you know?
- The phrase 団子鼻 is often used in Japanese character tropes to signal that a person is honest, cheerful or slightly clumsy.
- The first part of 団子鼻 comes from 団子, a type of round, chewy dumpling often made from rice flour. This makes the phrase literally translate to 'dumpling nose'.
- In Japanese, using 団子 as a metaphor for roundness is common, but applying it to human features can be perceived as quite blunt or unflattering.
Examples in context
- 社長の大きな鼻は特徴的です。The president's big nose is distinctive.
- 彼はデカ鼻で周りからジョークを言われることがあります。He has a big nose and sometimes gets teased about it.
- あの芸能人はビッグノーズがトレードマークだよね。That celebrity is known for their big nose, right?
- 彼は団子鼻をしている。Kare wa dango-bana o shite iru.He has a bulbous nose.
- 団子鼻はとても特徴的だ。Dango-bana wa totemo tokuchouteki da.A bulbous nose is very distinctive.
- 父親に似て団子鼻になった。Chichioya ni nite dango-bana ni natta.I developed a bulbous nose like my father.
Example conversation
Daigou and Himari are looking at a family photo.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの写真の親戚は団子鼻だね。kono shashin no shinseki wa dango-hana da ne.The relative in this photo has a bulbous nose, right?
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ。とても親しみやすい顔をしているわ。hontou da. totemo shitashimi yasui kao o shite iru wa.You're right. They have a very friendly-looking face.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕も少し団子鼻かもしれない。boku mo sukoshi dango-hana kamo shirenai.I might have a bit of a bulbous nose too.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔の鼻はちょうどいいと思うよ。daigou no hana wa choudo ii to omou yo.I think your nose is just right, Daigou.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 団子鼻, CC BY-SA 4.0.
