Korean word

뺨

Pronunciation

Romanizationppyam

Meaning

  • nouncheek

Example

그가 내 뺨을 세게 때렸다.keu ga nae ppya meul se ge ttae ryeot tta

He hit me hard on the cheek.

Illustration for 뺨 (cheek)

More examples

아버지는 아기를 달래려고 아이의 뺨을 쓰다듬었다.a beo ji neun a gi reul tal lae ryeo go a i ui ppya meul sseu da deu meot tta

The father stroked the baby's cheek to soothe the baby.

Core concept

The fleshy side of the face where touch or a blow is felt most directly.

Common phrases

  • 뺨을 쓰다듬다ppya meul sseu da deum tta

    stroke the cheek

  • 뺨이 붉어지다ppya mi pul geo ji da

    cheeks turn red

Similar words

볼pol: The soft side of the face that moves when a person talks or smiles.
볼살polsal: The full, soft flesh of the cheek that gives the face a round shape.
광대kwangdae: The bony, raised part of the cheek and the nearby area.

Definition in Korean

볼과 비슷하지만 특히 손이 닿거나 때리는 대상이 되는 얼굴의 살을 이르는 명사.pol gwa pi seu ta ji man teu ki so ni ta keo na ttae ri neun tae sang i toe neun eol gu rui sa reul i reu neun myeong sa

Word origin

The term is an old native Korean word with no standard Hanja-based origin and has long referred to the soft flesh at the side of the face.

Usage tips

  • A scene involving this word is not automatically violent, since a light touch and a harsh action can create very different meanings.

Word lists with this word