泣(な)き顔(がお)

A compound of 泣(な)く (to cry) + 顔(かお) (face), where 顔(かお) voices to がお through sequential voicing (連濁(れんだく)).

Usage

Can describe someone actively crying or someone whose face shows traces of recent tears.

Common patterns

• 泣(な)き顔(がお)を見(み)せる: to show a tearful face
• 泣(な)き顔(がお)になる: to get a tearful expression
• 泣(な)き顔(がお)のまま: with tears still on one's face

RELATED ～顔(がお) COMPOUNDS:

• 笑(え)み顔(がお): smiling face
• 怒(おこ)り顔(がお): angry face
• 困(こま)り顔(がお): troubled face
• 泣(な)き顔(がお): crying face

This ～顔(がお) pattern is productive and can attach to many verb stems.