1.
innocent look; nonchalant expression; feigning ignorance; acting as if nothing happened
A facial expression or demeanor that conceals one's true feelings or knowledge of something, pretending that nothing unusual has occurred.
彼は何食わぬ顔で座っていた。
He was sitting there with an innocent look on his face.
遅刻したのに何食わぬ顔で教室に入ってきた。
Despite being late, she walked into the classroom as if nothing happened.
嘘をついたあとも何食わぬ顔でいられるなんて大した度胸だ。
Being able to keep a straight face after telling a lie takes quite some nerve.
何食わぬ顔 describes the expression or demeanor of someone pretending that nothing happened or that they know nothing. Almost always used with で to modify a verb.
WORD FORMATION:
何 (what) + 食わぬ (archaic negative of 食う, to eat/experience) + 顔 (face). Literally "a face that has experienced nothing."
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 何食わぬ顔で〜する: to do something with an innocent face
- 何食わぬ顔でいる: to act as if nothing happened
- 何食わぬ顔で帰る: to come back as if nothing happened
NUANCE:
Implies deliberate concealment — the person is aware of the situation but chooses to act normal. Often used critically, suggesting the person is being deceptive or brazen. Can also express admiration for someone's composure under pressure.
REGISTER:
Used in both spoken and written Japanese. The archaic ぬ negative form gives it a slightly literary flavor.