1.
calm face; nonchalant look; acting as if nothing happened
Describes someone who appears completely unaffected or unconcerned in a situation where others would be nervous, embarrassed, or troubled. Often implies the person is deliberately hiding their true feelings or pretending innocence.
彼は涼しい顔をしていた。
He had a nonchalant look on his face.
遅刻したのに、涼しい顔で入ってきた。
Despite being late, he walked in looking completely unfazed.
自分のミスなのに涼しい顔をして、他人のせいにした。
Even though it was his own mistake, he put on an innocent face and blamed someone else.
A figurative expression where 涼しい (cool) describes not temperature but composure. The "cool face" is one that shows no embarrassment, guilt, or worry. Often carries a slightly negative nuance — the speaker is implying the person should be more affected than they appear.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 涼しい顔をする: to put on a nonchalant face
- 涼しい顔で〜する: to do something with a calm/unbothered expression
- 涼しい顔をして知らんぷり: to pretend not to know with an innocent face
NUANCE:
Can be used admiringly (staying cool under pressure) but more often implies criticism — the person is being too calm given the circumstances, or is deliberately feigning innocence.
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 知らんぷり: pretending not to know — focuses on feigning ignorance
- 平然と: calmly, composedly — more neutral, without the visual image of a face
- 涼しい目: cool eyes — a related expression focusing on a detached, unimpressed gaze