gentle face; serene expression; Buddha-like face
Describes a calm, compassionate, and gentle facial expression, often likened to a Buddha statue. Used for people, not actual Buddha images.
She always has a serene expression that puts everyone at ease.
Even though he was angry, he kept a gentle face.
Compound of 仏 (hotoke, 'Buddha') and 顔 (kao, 'face'), literally 'Buddha face'. The reading ほとけがお is a straightforward combination of the two words.