微笑|びしょうbishou[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbsmile
    彼かれは私を見みて皮肉ひにくな微笑びしょうを浮うかべた。↗
    He smiled a cynical smile at me.
Conjugation
Dictionary form微笑する(びしょうする)
Polite (masu)微笑します(びしょうします)
Negative (nai)微笑しない(びしょうしない)
polite (masen)微笑しません(びしょうしません)
classical zu / nu微笑せず・微笑せぬ(びしょうせず・びしょうせぬ)
Past (ta)微笑した(びしょうした)
polite (mashita)微笑しました(びしょうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)微笑しなかった(びしょうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)微笑しませんでした(びしょうしませんでした)
Te form微笑して(びしょうして)
Potential微笑できる(びしょうできる)
Passive微笑される(びしょうされる)
Causative微笑させる(びしょうさせる)
Causative passive微笑させられる(びしょうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)微笑すれば(びしょうすれば)
tara微笑したら(びしょうしたら)
Volitional微笑しよう(びしょうしよう)
polite (mashou)微笑しましょう(びしょうしましょう)
Imperative微笑しろ(びしょうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym微笑むほほえむNeutralThe everyday verb for smiling; 「微笑」 is the Sino-Japanese noun and leans written, as in 「微笑を浮かべる」.
  • Synonym笑みえみWrittenA written, literary noun for a smile or smiling look, as in 「笑みを浮かべる」.
  • SynonymスマイルNeutralA loanword for a smile, common in the service industry, as in 「スマイル0円」.
  • SynonymにっこりCasualA colloquial mimetic word for a sweet, happy smile; stresses the cheerful look on one's face.
  • Synonym微笑みほほえみNeutralA native-Japanese noun for a smile with a soft, warm feel; more colloquial than 「微笑」.
  • Synonym笑むえむWrittenA written, old-fashioned verb for smiling, rarely used in modern Japanese.
  • Related笑顔えがおNeutralThe most common everyday noun; it means a smiling face and focuses on the expression itself.
  • Related破顔はがんWrittenA written noun for breaking into a broad smile, as in 「破顔一笑」; stresses joy showing plainly on the face.
  • Related含み笑いふくみわらいNeutralA noun for a suppressed, lips-closed smile; can suggest reserve or a sly, ill-intentioned smirk.
  • Related笑い顔わらいがおNeutralA noun for a laughing or smiling face; less common, since everyday speech uses 「笑顔」.
  • Antonym大笑たいしょうWrittenA written noun for laughing out loud, the opposite of a gentle 「微笑」.

For a gentle smile in written prose use 「微笑」, as in 「微笑を浮かべる」; the verb is 「微笑む」, the softer native noun 「微笑み」, a smiling face 「笑顔」, a service-industry smile 「スマイル」, a sweet smile 「にっこり」; loud laughter is 「大笑」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. ほほえむこと。ほほえみ。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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