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.
彼は真顔で言った。
He said it with a straight face.
冗談かと思ったが、彼女は真顔だった。
I thought it was a joke, but she was dead serious.
あんなおかしなことを真顔で言われると、笑っていいのか困る。
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:
- 真顔で言う: to say with a straight face
- 真顔になる: to become serious-faced
- 真顔で聞く: to listen with a serious face