真顔(まがお)

まがお
noun
serious face, straight face
appearanceemotion
1. serious face, straight face
A facial expression that is serious, earnest, and without a smile or laughter. Often used when someone says something funny or absurd with a completely straight face.
彼(かれ)は真顔(まがお)で言(い)った。
He said it with a straight face.
冗談(じょうだん)かと思(おも)ったが、彼女(かのじょ)は真顔(まがお)だった。
I thought it was a joke, but she was dead serious.
あんなおかしなことを真顔(まがお)で言(い)われると、笑(わら)っていいのか困(こま)る。
When someone says something that ridiculous with a straight face, I don't know whether to laugh or not.

Usage

Most commonly appears in the pattern 真顔(まがお)で (with a straight/serious face). Often creates a humorous or surprising effect when paired with absurd or unexpected statements. Can also simply describe genuine seriousness.

Common collocations

Related Words

Antonym: 笑顔(えがお) (smiling face)
general
Added 2026.2.26 21:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13659_magao