downcast look; lowered eyes
Describes a facial expression where one looks downward, often due to shyness, embarrassment, sadness, or deference.
She started speaking with her eyes mostly downcast.
叱られた子供は伏し目で立っていた。
The scolded child stood with lowered eyes.
Standard kanji spelling with okurigana; common in modern usage.
Less common kanji spelling without okurigana; still encountered.
Compound of 伏し (continuative form of 伏す, 'to bend down, lower') + 目 ('eye'). The spelling 伏目 is a variant without okurigana.