顔(かお)つき

かおつき
noun
facial expression; look on one's face
appearanceemotion
1. facial expression; look on one's face; countenance
The overall appearance or expression of someone's face, often reflecting their mood, character, or emotional state.
怖(こわ)い顔(かお)つきをしている。
He has a scary look on his face.
彼女(かのじょ)は真剣(しんけん)な顔(かお)つきで話(はな)し始(はじ)めた。
She began to speak with a serious expression.
子供(こども)たちの顔(かお)つきを見(み)れば、楽(たの)しんでいるかどうかすぐ分(わ)かる。
You can tell right away whether the children are having fun by the looks on their faces.

A compound of 顔(かお) (face) and つき (appearance, way of being attached). The suffix つき indicates the way something looks or the manner in which it appears.

Usage

Often used with adjectives or descriptive phrases to characterize how someone's face looks: 優(やさ)しい顔(かお)つき (a kind-looking face), 険(けわ)しい顔(かお)つき (a stern expression). Commonly appears with the pattern 〜顔(かお)つきをしている (to have a ... expression).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 表情(ひょうじょう) — facial expression; more about momentary emotional expression
  • 顔立(かおだ)ち — facial features; refers to the physical structure of the face rather than expression
  • 面持(おもも)ち — expression, look; literary/formal synonym

Related Words

Compare: 表情(ひょうじょう) (facial expression)
Compare: 顔立(かおだ)ち (facial features)
Compare: 目(め)つき (look in one's eyes)
general
Added 2026.3.26 20:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
19500/19660_kaotsuki