腮 (sāi) - Cheek — the fleshy part of the face

腮Tone 1

sāi ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

儒三

腮 · sāi

Cheek — the fleshy part of the face below the eyes and between the nose and ear.

Cheek — the fleshy part of the face

Usage highlights

CheekCheekboneCheek pouchCheek fleshFish gillsTouching cheeks

Synonyms

  • 脸颊— cheek (more formal term)
  • 面颊— cheek (alternative term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She has rosy cheeks (红润的脸颊).
  • He rested his chin on his hands (双手托腮).
  • The baby has chubby cheeks (胖嘟嘟的腮帮子).
  • Tears streamed down her cheeks (眼泪顺着脸颊流下).

Collocations

  • Cheek(腮)
  • Cheekbone(腮骨)
  • Cheek pouch(腮囊)
  • Cheek flesh(腮肉)
  • Fish gills(鱼腮)
  • Touching cheeks(托腮)

Idioms

  • Cheeks flushed and lips red(腮凝新荔，鼻腻鹅脂)
  • Tear-stained cheeks(泪痕红浥鲛绡透)
  • Pink cheeks and white teeth(朱唇榴齿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese physiognomy, full cheeks are often associated with fortune and good luck.
  • The character contains the radical 月 (flesh), indicating its relation to body parts.
  • In classical Chinese poetry, rosy cheeks are often used to describe feminine beauty.

FAQ