Translation guide
A scowl is an angry or bad-tempered facial expression. In Japanese, it can be expressed with specific verbs, nouns, or descriptive phrases, often depending on whether you are describing the expression itself, the act of making it, or the feeling behind it.
Describing the action of frowning or glaring angrily.
The most common verb for scowling or glaring at someone with anger or hostility.
彼は私を睨んだ。
He scowled at me.
Often used for frowning or grimacing, especially with 顔 (face). Can imply a scowl from displeasure or pain.
彼女は顔をしかめた。
She scowled.
Literally 'to knit one's eyebrows'. A common phrase for frowning or scowling in disapproval or worry.
彼は眉をひそめて私を見た。
He looked at me with a scowl.
An intensified version of 睨む, meaning to glare or scowl fiercely.
彼は私をにらみつけた。
He scowled at me fiercely.
Referring to the facial expression itself as a noun.
A common noun for a scowl, grimace, or frown.
彼はしかめ面をした。
He made a scowl.
A glare or scowl, often implying a sharp, intimidating look.
Describing someone who often scowls or has a naturally scowling face.
A natural way to say someone always has a scowl on their face.
彼はいつもしかめ面をしている。
He always has a scowl on his face.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a displeased-looking face', often equivalent to a scowl.
彼女は不機嫌そうな顔で座っていた。
She sat with a scowl on her face.
睨む (niramu) implies a directed glare, often at a person, with anger or hostility. しかめる (shikameru) is more about the facial contortion itself, often from displeasure or pain, and is commonly used with 顔 (kao) as in 顔をしかめる.
English 'scowl' does not have a single exact equivalent. Avoid directly translating 'scowl' as a noun in all contexts; often a verb phrase or descriptive expression is more natural.
彼の鋭いにらみに、私は何も言えなかった。
His sharp scowl silenced me.
A sullen, sulky scowl; literally 'Buddha-top face'. Used for a persistently grumpy expression.
彼は一日中仏頂面だった。
He had a scowl on his face all day.