顔(かお)を上(あ)げる

A common expression describing the physical action of lifting one's face. Frequently used in narrative writing to describe a character's movements, often to convey emotional states — raising one's head can signal attention, confidence, or a change in focus.

Usage

• Very common in novels and descriptive writing
• Often used when a character has been reading, looking down, or in a bowed position
• The opposite action is 顔(かお)を下(さ)げる or うつむく (to look down)
• Can also have a figurative sense: to be able to show one's face proudly

Common collocations

• ゆっくり顔(かお)を上(あ)げる: to slowly raise one's head
• ふと顔(かお)を上(あ)げる: to casually look up
• 本(ほん)から顔(かお)を上(あ)げる: to look up from a book
• はっと顔(かお)を上(あ)げる: to look up with a start

Similar words

• 見上(みあ)げる: to look up at — focuses on the direction of one's gaze (upward at something)
• うつむく: to look down, hang one's head — the opposite action
• 顔(かお)を伏(ふ)せる: to cast one's eyes down — to lower one's face
• 頭(あたま)を上(あ)げる: to raise one's head — similar but uses 頭(あたま) instead of 顔(かお)