Proverb / Kotowaza
痘痕もえくぼ
When someone is in love or biased, even the other person's flaws appear to be charming qualities.
Even pockmarks look like dimples
Quick Answer
When someone is in love or biased, even the other person's flaws appear to be charming qualities.
- Literal Image
- Even pockmarks look like dimples
- How to Use It
- This is used to describe a situation where someone is so infatuated or biased that they cannot see the flaws in another person. It is applied to romantic relationships or parental affection.
Meaning
This expression describes how affection can cloud a person's judgment, making them perceive faults as virtues. Just as a lover might see smallpox scars as cute dimples, a person who views someone with favoritism or deep love may see their shortcomings as positive traits.
Literal Image
Even pockmarks look like dimples
How to Use It
This is used to describe a situation where someone is so infatuated or biased that they cannot see the flaws in another person. It is applied to romantic relationships or parental affection.
Tone
This is a neutral observation that can be used somewhat humorously or critically to point out someone's lack of objectivity.
Examples
痘痕もえくぼで、恋をしている彼女には相手の欠点さえ魅力に見えるようだ。
Because even pockmarks look like dimples when you are in love, she seems to see even his flaws as charming.
痘痕もえくぼとは言うが、冷静になれば欠点は欠点だ。
They say that even pockmarks can look like dimples, but once you regain your composure, a flaw is still a flaw.
親にとって我が子は痘痕もえくぼで、何をしても可愛く見えるものだ。
To a parent, their child is so precious that even their faults are charming, and everything they do looks cute.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The proverb relies on specific nouns for physical features and an idiomatic use of the particle 'mo' to express an extreme comparison.
痘痕
あばた / abata
pockmarks or scars left by smallpox
えくぼ
えくぼ / ekubo
dimples
Usage Profile
Usage note: While it can be used about love, it can sound slightly dismissive of the person's current feelings if used as a warning.
Misread Risk
This is not a compliment about someone's appearance; it is a comment on the observer's biased perspective.
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Origin
The term 'abata' refers to the scars left by smallpox, which are viewed as physical flaws. However, the proverb suggests that to a lover, these marks can appear as charming as dimples ('ekubo'). It captures the psychological tendency to see a loved one's defects as virtues.
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