笑顔|えがおegao[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounsmiling face; smile
   彼女かのじょの笑顔えがおが感謝かんしゃの気持きもちを表あらわした。↗

   Her smile expressed her thanks.

• SynonymスマイルNeutralLoanword for a smile, mostly in advertising and customer service, as in 「スマイルで接客」.
• Related笑いわらいNeutralThe act of laughing or the sound of laughter, as in 「笑いが起こる」; 「笑顔」 refers only to the smiling face.
• RelatedニヤニヤNeutralSilent grinning or smirking, as in 「ニヤニヤする」, often smug or mischievous; 「笑顔」 only describes the smiling face.
• Related笑みえみWrittenWritten-style word for a smile or hint of a smile, as in 「笑みを浮かべる」「満面の笑み」; mostly found in descriptive prose.
• Related微笑びしょうWrittenSino-Japanese word for a smile, as in 「微笑を浮かべる」; more written in flavour than 「微笑み」.
• RelatedにっこりNeutralAdverb for smiling broadly and sweetly, as in 「にっこり笑う」; describes the manner of smiling, not the face itself.
• Related微笑みほほえみNeutralA gentle smile, as in 「優しい微笑み」; lighter and more refined than 「笑顔」.
• Related含み笑いふくみわらいNeutralA suppressed, silent laugh with the lips pressed together; often carries a knowing or snickering nuance.
• Related破顔はがんWrittenWritten word for breaking into a broad, whole-face smile; seen mostly in 「破顔一笑」.
• Related笑い顔わらいがおNeutralAlso a smiling face, close in meaning to 「笑顔」 but used less often.
• Antonym泣き顔なきがおNeutralA crying face; the direct opposite of 「笑顔」.
• Antonym怒り顔いかりがおNeutralAn angry expression; the opposite of a happy 「笑顔」.

Use 「笑顔」 for a smiling face. For the act or sound of laughing say 「笑い」; for a gentle smile 「微笑み」, in written prose 「笑み」「微笑」; for silent smirks 「ニヤニヤ」「含み笑い」. The opposites are 「泣き顔」 and 「怒り顔」.

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

1. にっこりと笑わらった顔かお。微笑ほほえんだ顔かお。