Translation guide
How to express looking, staring, or responding without expression, emotion, or understanding in Japanese.
He stared blankly.
Describing a vacant, emotionless gaze or look.
The most common way to say 'stare blankly' or 'look vacantly'. ぼんやり means absent-mindedly or vacantly.
He was staring blankly out the window.
Literally 'look with empty eyes', emphasizing a lack of emotion or life in the eyes.
She was staring blankly at the wall with empty eyes.
Means 'stare expressionlessly'. More literal and less common in casual speech.
He stared at me blankly.
Reacting to something with a blank, uncomprehending, or emotionless expression.
Describes a blank, puzzled, or dumbfounded look, often when surprised or not understanding.
He looked blankly at the sudden question.
Similar to きょとん, but often implies a more open-mouthed, stunned blankness.
He gaped blankly at the news.
Means 'unresponsive' or 'showing no reaction'. Can sound clinical.
He was blankly unresponsive to my joke.
Describing a state of zoning out or being lost in thought with a blank expression.
The verb form for spacing out or being absent-minded. Can be used for both the action and the state.
I was staring blankly during class.
Means 'head in the clouds', not paying attention, often with a blank look.
Doing something mechanically, without conscious thought, often with a blank expression.
ぼんやり is for a vacant, unfocused stare. きょとん is for a puzzled, blank look (often with wide eyes). ぽかん is for a stunned, open-mouthed blankness.
He was watching TV blankly (zoned out).
Not understanding the question, I looked blankly puzzled.
At the sudden event, I gaped blankly.
Do not translate 'blankly' as 空白に or ブランクに. These are not used for expressions or manner. Use the adverbial forms like ぼんやりと or set phrases like きょとんとする.
She looked at me blankly.
He answered blankly.
He was blankly staring off and not listening to me.