A slightly literary or refined word for a smile, often suggesting a gentle, warm, or quiet expression. In everyday speech, 笑顔 (えがお) is more common.
She quietly showed a smile.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Looking at his grandchild, my grandfather's eyes crinkled in a deep smile.
Hearing the news, a smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
The teacher smiled gently at the students.
微笑 is a formal, written word for a faint smile, close in register to 笑み but even more restricted to literary or descriptive prose.
笑み is a literary, slightly old-fashioned word for a smile, whereas スマイル is a modern loanword with a casual or Western feel.
Standard kanji spelling; the only written form.
Derived from the verb 笑む (えむ), an older or more literary form of 笑う (わらう). The noun 笑み retains a refined, gentle nuance compared to the more common 笑い (わらい).