無表情

• Reading: むひょうじょう
• Romaji: muhyoujou
• Kanji breakdown: 無 (without/none) + 表情 (facial expression) → completely devoid of any expression
• Pronunciation: /mu.çjo.u.dʑo.u/

Meaning

Expressionless — a completely blank face showing zero emotion, used to describe an extreme deadpan reaction.

More intense than 真顔, 無表情 describes a face that shows absolutely no emotion whatsoever — not even the effort of trying to look serious. In slang usage, it describes the reaction of someone who is so unimpressed, bored, or done with a situation that their face has gone completely blank. Often used on social media to describe reactions to cringe content, boring meetings, or incomprehensible situations.

Examples

1. 上司のスピーチ長すぎて全員無表情だった。 The boss's speech went on so long that everyone went completely blank.
2. 無表情で「へー」って言うの怖すぎ。 Saying 'hmm' with a totally expressionless face is terrifying.
3. バグ5回目で完全に無表情になってる自分がいた。 By the fifth bug, I realized I'd gone completely expressionless.

Usage Guide

Context: social media, friends, casual conversation

Tone: flat, descriptive

Do Say

• 3時間の会議で無表情になった。 (I went completely blank during the 3-hour meeting.)
• 無表情で聞いてるけど内心キレてる。 (I'm listening with a blank face but I'm furious inside.)

Don't Say

• 人の顔を指して「無表情だね」は失礼 (Pointing at someone and saying 'you're expressionless' is rude)

Common Mistakes

• Using 無表情 interchangeably with 真顔 — 無表情 implies more extreme emotional flatness
• Not knowing that 無表情 can describe deliberate emotional masking, not just boredom

Origin & History

Standard Japanese compound meaning 'no expression,' repurposed in casual speech and social media to describe the extreme blankness of someone who has completely checked out emotionally. Gained popularity as a reaction descriptor in the 2010s online culture.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s social media culture

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across Japan. While the word itself is standard Japanese, its use as a dramatic reaction descriptor is a more recent casual development.