How to say "expression" in Japanese

• 表示ひょうじCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbRefers to showing or indicating something rather than expressing meaning. For the usual English senses of 'expression' — wording, or a look on the face — this is seldom the word you want.
• 表現ひょうげんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe default choice for putting thoughts and feelings into words, art, or other outward form; it also covers a particular wording or turn of phrase. When unsure which word fits, start here.
  「潮時しおどきというものがある」という表現ひょうげんは実じつはシェイクスピアの「ジュリアス・シーザー」にある表現ひょうげんである。↗

  "There is a tide" is, in fact, from a passage in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
• 言い回しいいまわしCommon
  nounRefers to a way of saying something — the actual wording or phrasing rather than the act of expressing. Use it for an expression in the sense of a phrase or characteristic turn of speech.
  彼かれの演説えんぜつには数々かずかずのすばらしい言い回いいまわしが含ふくまれていた。↗

  His speech contained many fine phrases.
• 形容けいようCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers expression in words only in the sense of describing or characterizing something; in grammar it means modification, as when an adjective qualifies a noun. For 'expression' generally this is a marginal choice.
  その王女おうじょは形容けいようできないほど美うつくしかった。↗

  The princess was beautiful beyond description.
• 目つきめつきJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'expression' only in the sense of the look in someone's eyes. It never refers to wording or to the act of expressing thoughts in words.
  彼女かのじょは悩なやましい目めつきで僕ぼくを見みた。↗

  She looked at me seductively.

Use 表現 for expressing thoughts in words or art and for particular wordings, 「言い回し」 for a way of phrasing things, 「目つき」 for the look in someone's eyes; 表示 is about indicating or showing, 形容 about describing.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 表示ひょうじindication
• 表現ひょうげんexpression
• 言い回しいいまわしexpression
• 形容けいようdescription
• 目つきめつきlook (in someone's eyes)
• 言葉遣いことばづかいspeech
• 血相けっそうexpression
• 面持ちおももちexpression
• 表出ひょうしゅつexpression
• 形相ぎょうそうlook (esp. an angry or upset look)
• 発露はつろappearance
• 表明ひょうめいdeclaration
• 顔つきかおつき(outward) looks
• 現れあらわれembodiment
• 言い方いいかたway of saying (something)
• エクスプレッションexpression
• 表白ひょうはくexpression
• 面色めんしょくexpression
• 面付きつらつきexpression (on one's face)
• 言葉付きことばつきspeech
• 申しようもうしようwords
• 目面めづらface and eyes
• 面構えつらがまえ(facial) expression (esp. fierce, fearless, sinister, etc.)
• 色いろlook (on one's face)
• 言葉ことばword
• 発想はっそうexpression
• 表情ひょうじょうlook
• 文句もんくphrase
• 顔色かおいろcountenance
• 発現はつげんexpression (e.g. in molecular biology; protein expression or gene expression)
• 顔かおlook
• 式しきequation
• 句くmaxim
• 色しょく(facial) expression