Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing a frown depends on whether you mean a facial expression of displeasure, worry, or concentration, or the act of furrowing your brows. The most common way is to describe the action or use onomatopoeia.
To describe someone making a displeased or angry face by furrowing their brows.
Literally 'to furrow one's eyebrows'. This is the most direct and common way to say 'frown' in the sense of showing displeasure or disapproval.
彼は私の提案に眉をひそめた。
He frowned at my suggestion.
Means 'to grimace' or 'to make a sour face'. It can be used for a frown of disgust, pain, or displeasure.
彼女は苦い薬に顔をしかめた。
She frowned at the bitter medicine.
A noun meaning 'grimace' or 'frown'. Often used with する to mean 'to make a frown'.
彼はしかめ面をした。
He made a frown.
Means 'to make a displeased/sullen face'. It describes a general expression of unhappiness, which often includes a frown.
彼女は不機嫌な顔をして座っていた。
She sat there with a frown on her face.
To describe someone furrowing their brows due to worry, concern, or concentration.
Same phrase as above, but context indicates worry or thought rather than anger.
彼は難しい問題に眉をひそめた。
He frowned at the difficult problem.
Literally 'to gather wrinkles between the eyebrows'. This vividly describes a frown of concentration or worry.
彼は眉間にしわを寄せて考え込んだ。
He frowned in thought, wrinkles forming between his brows.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'to make a face as if deep in thought', which often involves a slight frown.
彼女は考え込むような顔をして窓の外を見ていた。
She was looking out the window with a thoughtful frown.
To refer to the frown as a facial expression.
The most direct noun for 'frown' or 'grimace'.
彼のしかめ面を見て、何か悪いことがあったと分かった。
Seeing his frown, I knew something bad had happened.
Noun form of '眉をひそめる', meaning 'a furrowing of the brows'.
彼女の眉のひそめが、不満を表していた。
Her frown showed her dissatisfaction.
Means 'sullen/displeased expression', which often includes a frown.
彼は不機嫌な表情で私を見た。
He looked at me with a frown.
To express that an action or behavior is disapproved of.
Can be used metaphorically to mean 'to frown upon' or 'to disapprove of'.
そのような行為は社会から眉をひそめられる。
Such behavior is frowned upon by society.
Means 'not thought well of'. A more indirect way to say something is frowned upon.
遅刻は会社でよく思われない。
Being late is frowned upon at the company.
Means 'to be criticized/blamed'. Stronger than 'frowned upon' but can be used in similar contexts.
彼の行動はみんなから非難された。
His actions were frowned upon by everyone.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates to 'to frown'. Using 眉をひそめる or 顔をしかめる is natural, but simply saying フラウンする is not used.
眉をひそめる specifically refers to furrowing the brows, often showing disapproval or deep thought. 顔をしかめる is a broader grimace that can involve the whole face, often due to disgust, pain, or strong dislike.