forbidding look; uncanny look
Describes a facial expression or atmosphere that feels threatening, eerie, or unsettling. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
No one could approach him because of his forbidding expression.
The old mansion had an uncanny atmosphere.
Compound of 険 (steep, severe) and 相 (appearance, look). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally conveys a severe or forbidding appearance.