顔付き
Meaning in Englishfacial expression
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 顔付き mean? It denotes a person’s facial presentation—the way their face conveys impression or character. It refers to the look or bearing that a face gives, often signaling mood, temperament, or attitude.
Main meanings
- Primary sense: a noun describing the visible face-based impression someone projects.
- Implied mood or character: the look can suggest gentleness, sternness, warmth, or other traits.
- Common collocations: frequently paired with adjectives like いい or 悪い to describe demeanor.
How to use it
Used as a noun in both written and spoken Japanese to refer to someone's facial appearance or bearing; in casual speech you might comment on someone's facial impression, while in journalism or literature it's used to characterize a person’s demeanor; typical usage patterns involve linking with adjectives or verbs like 顔付きがいい or 顔付きが悪い.
Variants and close terms
- 顔立ち kao-dachi – emphasis on overall facial features, not expression
- 表情 hyoujou – focus on facial expression and mood
- 容貌 youbou – formal appearance or looks
Composition
- 顔 = face
- 付き = attached/with
Etymology
顔 (face) + 付き (attached/with) forms a compound indicating a face that carries certain traits; the reading and sense emerged as the combination of these kanji to express how a person’s face signals their bearing.
Word class
Noun (名詞)