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血相 (けっそう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun
expression ; look ; countenance
Refers to the look on one's face, especially when showing strong emotion. Most often used in the phrase 血相を変える (to change color, to look frantic).
Kanji 相 inter-, mutual, together Similar words 表ひょう 情じょう 表情 is a general term for facial expression, while 血相 specifically refers to the expression as it reflects one's emotional state, often in dramatic situations.
顔かお 色いろ 顔色 refers to complexion or the color of one's face, often related to health. 血相 focuses more on the emotional expression and is used in set phrases like 血相を変える.
そう
が
変か
わっ
た
彼かの
女じょ
を
見み
て
、
何なに
か
あっ
た
の
か
と
心しん
配ぱい
に
なっ
た
。
Seeing her changed expression, I worried that something had happened.
血 (blood) + 相 (aspect, appearance). The combination suggests the appearance of one's blood showing through the face, i.e., one's expression reflecting inner emotion.
