1.
deathly pale; white as a sheet
A state where one's face has lost all color, typically from shock, fear, illness, or extreme emotion.
A four-character compound (四字熟語): 顔面 (face) + 蒼白 (pale, pallid). Describes the dramatic loss of color from the face.
Common collocations
Similar words
- 青ざめる: to turn pale — a verb form; more commonly used in everyday speech
- 血の気が引く: the blood drains from one's face — a vivid idiomatic expression for turning pale
- 真っ青になる: to turn completely pale/blue — casual and common
Usage
More dramatic and literary than 青ざめる. Commonly appears in novels, news reports about emergencies, and dramatic descriptions. Can be used as a na-adjective (顔面蒼白な表情) or as a noun with になる.