ニヤリ

に

や

り

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

with a meaningful grin; suggestively; sneeringly

Describes a brief, knowing, or suggestive smile, often with a hint of satisfaction, mischief, or scorn. Typically used with 笑う or する.

の

よう

に

ニヤリ

と

笑わら

っ

た

。

He grinned meaningfully as if he knew the secret.

犯はん人にんは刑けい事じの質しつ問もんにニヤリとするだけだった。

The suspect just smirked at the detective's question.

〈人ひと〉がニヤリと笑わらうto give a sly, knowing grin
彼かれはニヤリと笑わらって、答こたえを教おしえなかった。
He gave a knowing smirk and wouldn't tell me the answer.
〈人ひと〉がニヤリとするto smirk knowingly
彼かの女じょは秘ひ密みつを知しっていることに気きづき、ニヤリとした。
Realizing she knew the secret, she gave a sly smirk.
口くち元もとがニヤリと歪ゆがむthe corner of one's mouth curls into a sly grin
犯はん人にんの口くち元もとがニヤリと歪ゆがんだ。
The criminal's mouth twisted into a sly grin.

にんまり
にんまり describes a broader, more self-satisfied and prolonged smile, while ニヤリ is a quicker, sharper knowing grin.
にっこりN3
にこり is a warm, innocent smile, whereas ニヤリ carries a sly or knowing, sometimes mischievous or scornful, edge.
ニタリ
にたり and ニヤリ both describe a quick, knowing smile, but にたり often sounds more sinister or menacing.
にやにやN3
にやにや describes a sustained, repeated grinning (often smug or lecherous), while ニヤリ is a single brief flash of that same kind of smile.

にっこりN3
にっこり is a bright, friendly smile, easily confused with ニヤリ by sound, but ニヤリ implies slyness or hidden intent rather than warmth.
ふふふ
にやり describes a sly grin (a facial expression, not a sound), while ふふふ is the sound of soft laughter itself.

Onomatopoeic or mimetic word; the exact derivation is uncertain.