顔かおがほころぶ

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-bu)

break into a smile; smile broadly; beam

Describes a face naturally relaxing into a happy smile, often involuntarily or when seeing something heartwarming.

赤あかちゃんを見みて、彼かの女じょの顔かおがほころんだ。
Her face broke into a smile when she saw the baby.

孫まご

の

写しゃ

真しん

を

見み

る

たび

に

、

祖そ

父ふ

の

顔かお

が

ほころぶ

。

Every time he sees a photo of his grandchild, my grandfather's face beams.

Written forms

顔かおがほころぶ
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling; ほころぶ is often written in kana for this expression.
顔かおが綻ほころぶ
Full kanji spelling; less common and may look formal or literary.

Kanji

顔face, expression
綻be rent, ripped, unravel

Similar words

微笑ほほえむ
微笑む is a more deliberate, gentle smile, while 顔がほころぶ emphasizes an involuntary, spreading smile that softens the whole face.
にっこりする
にっこりする is a brief, bright smile, often intentional, whereas 顔がほころぶ suggests a gradual, warm expression change.

Etymology

From 顔 (face) + が (subject marker) + ほころぶ (to come apart at the seams, to open). Originally used for flowers blooming or seams loosening, metaphorically extended to a face relaxing into a smile.