笑顔

• Reading: えがお
• Romaji: egao
• Kanji breakdown: 笑 (shou/e) — smile, laugh; 顔 (gan/gao) — face
• Pronunciation: /e.ɡa.o/

Meaning

Smiling face; smile. A warm expression showing happiness or friendliness.

A noun combining 笑 (laugh/smile) and 顔 (face). Very commonly used in everyday Japanese. Often appears in phrases like 笑顔になる (to break into a smile), 笑顔で (with a smile), and 笑顔を見せる (to show a smile). Frequently used in descriptions of people and emotional scenes.

Examples

1. 彼女はいつも笑顔で挨拶してくれる。 She always greets me with a smile.
2. 子供たちの笑顔が一番の宝物だ。 The children's smiles are my greatest treasure.
3. 久しぶりに母の笑顔を見て安心した。 I felt relieved seeing my mother's smile after such a long time.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, emotions, descriptions

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Composed of 笑 (warau/shou, to laugh or smile) and 顔 (kao/gan, face). The kanji 笑 depicts bamboo (竹) bending, evoking the image of someone bending over with laughter.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal