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御面相 (ごめんそう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

御ご面めん相そう

ご

め

ん

そ

う

Meanings

1

noun

frightful face; scary face

Used to describe a face that looks frightening, stern, or intimidating. Often carries a slightly humorous or exaggerated tone.

彼かれは怒おこると御ご面めん相そうが怖こわくなる。
When he gets angry, his face becomes frightening.
そのお面めんは御ご面めん相そうがすごい。
That mask has a really scary face.

Written forms

御ご面めん相そう
Standard kanji spelling with honorific prefix 御.
ご面めん相そう
Kana prefix variant; less formal but still encountered.

Kanji

御honorable, manipulate, govern
面mask, face, features
相

inter-, mutual, together

Similar words

面めん相そう
面相 is a neutral term for facial features or expression, while 御面相 adds the honorific 御 and often implies a frightening or exaggerated appearance.
怖こわい顔かお
怖い顔 is a more common and direct way to say 'scary face', while 御面相 is more literary or old-fashioned.

Etymology

Compound of honorific prefix 御 (ご) and 面相 (めんそう, 'face, features'). The exact origin of the 'frightful' nuance is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of an imposing or stern countenance.