うつむき加 減(かげん)

うつむきかげん

noun

head slightly bowed; looking down a little

1. (with one's) head slightly tilted down; looking down a little

A posture or facial set in which the head is bowed somewhat — often expressing shyness, sadness, or thoughtfulness. Common as a description of demeanor in narration.

彼女(かのじょ)はうつむき加減(かげん)で答(こた)えた。

She answered with her head tilted slightly down.

うつむき加減(かげん)で歩(ある)いていたら知(し)り合(あ)いとぶつかった。

Walking with my eyes down, I bumped into someone I knew.

叱(しか)られた子供(こども)はうつむき加減(かげん)で静(しず)かに聞(き)いていた。

The scolded child listened quietly with his head bowed.

Compound of うつむく (to look down, to bow one's head) + 〜加減(かげん) (degree; -ish). The 加減(かげん) suffix softens to 'a bit' or 'slightly', so the whole phrase is 'a slight downward tilt of the head'.

Usage

Shyness: when meeting someone for the first time
Sadness or shame: after being scolded, after bad news
Thoughtfulness: while considering an answer

Similar words

〜加減(かげん): -ish; somewhat — also seen in 太(ふと)り加減(かげん) (a bit plump), 疲(つか)れ加減(かげん) (a bit tired)
うつむく: to bow one's head — the base verb, used when the action is more pronounced
下(した)を向(む)く: to face downward — concrete and physical, no emotional reading

Related Words

Related: うつむく (to look down)

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Added 2026.6.3 13:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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