梨涡

梨渦

líwō

noun

Measure Word

一对梨涡 duì

Meanings

1 dimples (especially small dimples on a woman's cheeks)
2 "pear-shaped" cheek dimples

Characters

pear (shape of the cheek)

whirlpool, small depression

Examples

HSK 3

他被她的梨涡迷住了。

Tā bèi tā de líwō mízhù le.

He was charmed by her dimples.

HSK 4

她笑起来有两个浅浅的梨涡。

Tā xiào qǐlái yǒu liǎng ge qiǎn qiǎn de líwō.

She has two shallow dimples when she smiles.

Tips

history

From a poem by Song-dynasty writer 罗大经 in 《鹤林玉露》: 君恩许归此一醉，傍有梨颊生微涡, describing a smile where a small whirlpool (涡) appears near the pear-shaped cheek (梨颊). A literary or flattering word.

usage

More poetic than the everyday synonym 酒窝, which just means dimple for anyone.

Stroke Order

梨 lí

涡 wō