愛想笑(あいそうわら)い

あいそうわらい
noun, suru verb
forced smile; polite smile; social smile
1. forced smile; polite smile; a smile used for social courtesy
a smile that is not genuine but is used to be polite or to smooth social interactions
愛想笑(あいそうわら)いで場(ば)をしのいだ。
I got through the situation with a polite smile.
つまらない話(はなし)でも愛想笑(あいそうわら)いをしなければならない。
I have to give a polite smile even for boring stories.
上司(じょうし)の冗談(じょうだん)に愛想笑(あいそうわら)いで応(おう)じた。
I responded to my boss's joke with a polite smile.

FORMATION:
愛想(あいそう) (sociability, amiability) + 笑(わら)い (smile) → sociable smile

VERB FORMS:
愛想笑(あいそうわら)いする (to give a polite smile)
愛想笑(あいそうわら)いを浮(う)かべる (to show a polite smile)

USAGE CONTEXT:

愛想笑(あいそうわら)い is common in:

  • 接客(せっきゃく) (customer service)
  • 仕事(しごと)の場(ば) (workplace)
  • 社交(しゃこう)の場(ば) (social settings)

NUANCE:
While 愛想笑(あいそうわら)い can be necessary for smooth social interactions, it sometimes has a slightly negative connotation of being insincere.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 作(つく)り笑(わら)い (fake smile) - more obviously fake
  • 苦笑(にがわら)い (bitter smile) - shows discomfort
  • 愛想(あいそう)がいい (pleasant, friendly)
  • 愛想(あいそう)が悪(わる)い (unfriendly)

RELATED EXPRESSION:
愛想(あいそう)を振(ふ)りまく (to be overly friendly/charming to everyone)

general
Added 2026.1.26 13:27 · Revised 2026.2.19 21:32
08000/08358_aisouwarai