靨
ekubo[e̞kɯ̟bo̞]
The English phrase 'dimple' can be translated into Japanese as 靨 (ekubo) or ディンプル.
Meaning: indentation in the cheek (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 靨 | ekubo | [e̞kɯ̟bo̞] (narrow) |
| ディンプル | dinpuru |
The term refers to an indentation in the cheek.
Which one should you use?
The traditional Japanese word is 靨, while ディンプル is a loanword from English. The katakana form ディンプル is often used in more modern, technical or fashion-related contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ekubo.
Did you know?
- The loanword ディンプル is frequently used in the context of golf balls to describe the aerodynamic indentations, whereas 靨 is strictly for human faces.
- In Japanese beauty standards, a 'dimple' is often described as a 'charm point' (チャームポイント), a term used to highlight a person's most attractive, unique feature.
- While 靨 describes the cheek, the word 窪む is used for any indentation, such as a pothole in the road or a dip in a landscape.
Example sentences for Japanese are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Daigo and Yui are talking about their facial features.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さんは笑うと靨ができるね。Yui-san wa warau to hoku ga dekiru ne.Yui, you get dimples when you smile.
- 結衣 Yui本当？気づいてくれたんだ。honto? kizuite kureta nda.Really? You noticed.
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、すごくチャーミングだと思うよ。un, sugoku chaamingu da to omou yo.Yeah, I think they're very charming.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう、大翔さん。arigato, Daigo-san.Thank you, Daigo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dimple” translations and entries 靨, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
