微笑む

• Reading: ほほえむ
• Romaji: hohoemu
• Kanji breakdown: 微 (bi/hono) — slight, subtle; 笑 (shou/e) — laugh, smile
• Pronunciation: /ho.ho.e.mɯ/

Meaning

To smile gently; to beam. A soft, warm smile rather than laughing.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. More gentle and refined than 笑う (warau, to laugh/smile). 微笑む specifically describes a quiet, warm smile without sound. The noun form is 微笑み (hohoemi, a smile). Often used in literature and to describe tender moments.

Examples

1. 赤ちゃんを見て母親が微笑んだ。 The mother smiled gently when she saw her baby.
2. 彼女は写真を見ながら静かに微笑んでいた。 She was quietly smiling while looking at the photos.
3. 先生が優しく微笑んで話しかけてくれた。 The teacher smiled warmly and spoke to me.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, emotions, descriptions

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Compound of 微 (bi, slight/subtle) and 笑 (shou, laugh/smile). The reading ほほえむ comes from the native Japanese word, related to 頬 (hoho, cheek) — the cheeks rising in a smile.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal