ニヤリ

ニ

ヤ

リ

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

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.

〈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.