How to say "cheek" in Japanese

• 頬ほおJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe cheek of the face, the body part. This is the neutral everyday word, suitable for describing appearance, touch, or physical sensations such as a slap or a blush.
  熱あつい涙なみだが彼女かのじょの頬ほおを伝つたった。↗

  Hot tears ran down her cheeks.
• ほっぺたJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounAlso the cheek of the face, but colloquial in tone and usually written in kana. Choose it in casual conversation, especially when speaking affectionately or about children, rather than in formal writing.
  赤ん坊あかんぼうのほっぺたはビロードのような手触てざわりがする。↗

  Little babies' cheeks feel like velvet.
• 心臓しんぞうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounLiterally the heart; as a rendering of 'cheek' it covers only the figurative sense of audacity or nerve, as in calling someone cheeky, and is never the word for the body part.

Use 頬 for the anatomical cheek of the face, 「ほっぺた」 for the same body part in casual speech, and 心臓 only for the figurative sense of cheek as audacity or impudence.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 頬ほおcheek (of the face)
• ほっぺたcheek
• チークcheek
• ほっぺcheek
• 心臓しんぞうguts