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苦り顔 (にがりがお) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

苦にがり顔がお

Meanings

1

noun

sour face; wry face

Describes a facial expression showing displeasure, bitterness, or discomfort, often in reaction to something unpleasant.

彼かれは苦にがり顔がおでその知しらせを聞きいた。
He listened to the news with a sour face.
まずい薬くすりを飲のんで、子こ供どもは苦にがり顔がおをした。
The child made a wry face after taking the bad-tasting medicine.

Kanji

苦suffering, trial, worry
顔face, expression

Similar words

渋しぶい顔かお
渋い顔 also means a sour or grimacing face, but 苦り顔 emphasizes bitterness or displeasure, while 渋い顔 can imply reluctance or a puckered expression from something astringent.

Etymology

Compound of 苦り (にがり, nominalized form of 苦る 'to feel bitter') + 顔 (かお 'face'). The exact derivation of 苦る is uncertain, but it is related to 苦い (にがい 'bitter').