How to say "lip" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

唇くちびるJLPT N2approx.Common
nounThe ordinary word for the lips of the mouth, of people and animals alike; this is what you want for the body part in virtually any context, for one lip or both.
冬ふゆは唇くちびるがあれます。↗
In winter, our lips get chapped.
リップ
nounThe katakana borrowing of 'lip', heard chiefly in the language of cosmetics and beauty products; for the body part itself, 唇 is the usual choice.
唇弁しんべん
nounA technical botany term for the labellum, the distinctive modified petal of an orchid flower; 'lip' here is this floral sense, never the lips of a mouth.

Use 唇 for the lips of the mouth in ordinary language; 「リップ」 is the katakana loanword heard chiefly in beauty and cosmetic contexts; 唇弁 is a botanical term for a flower's labellum.

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

Japanese equivalents

唇くちびるlip
リップlip
唇弁しんべんlabellum

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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