Translation guide
A grin is a broad smile, often showing teeth, expressing amusement, pleasure, or sometimes a sly or embarrassed feeling. Japanese has several words and expressions to convey different types of grins.
A broad, cheerful smile showing teeth, often in response to something funny or joyful.
An onomatopoeic adverb often used with 笑う (to smile/laugh) to describe a broad, cheerful grin. It conveys a warm, friendly smile.
彼はにっこり笑った。
He grinned broadly.
赤ちゃんがにっこりした。
The baby grinned.
Describes a continuous, beaming grin, often used for someone who is happily smiling for a while.
彼女はにこにこしながら話を聞いていた。
She was listening with a grin on her face.
Literally 'a full-face smile', this is a more literary expression for a broad grin that lights up the whole face.
彼は満面の笑みを浮かべた。
He broke into a broad grin.
A grin that suggests secret knowledge, mischief, or a teasing attitude.
An onomatopoeic adverb for a sly, meaningful grin, often when someone has a secret or is up to mischief.
彼はにやりと笑った。
He grinned slyly.
いたずらを考えて、少年はにやりとした。
Thinking of a prank, the boy grinned.
Similar to にやり, but often implies self-satisfaction or smugness. A grin of quiet triumph.
A daring or fearless grin, often used for a confident, bold smile in the face of challenge.
彼は不敵な笑みを浮かべた。
He gave a bold grin.
A grin that shows embarrassment, nervousness, or an attempt to hide discomfort.
A bashful or embarrassed grin/laugh, often when someone is praised or put on the spot.
彼は照れ笑いをした。
He gave an embarrassed grin.
褒められて、彼女は照れ笑いを浮かべた。
Being praised, she grinned shyly.
A wry or bitter grin, often when something is awkward, disappointing, or ironic.
A very wide grin that shows teeth, sometimes exaggerated or comical.
Literally 'to smile showing teeth', this is a straightforward way to describe a toothy grin.
彼は歯を見せて笑った。
He grinned, showing his teeth.
Describes laughing with a wide-open mouth, which can imply a big grin.
子供たちは口を大きく開けて笑っていた。
The children were grinning widely.
にっこり is a single, bright grin; にこにこ is a sustained, happy grin; にやり is a sly, meaningful grin. Choose based on the emotion you want to convey.
彼はにっこり笑って挨拶した。
He greeted with a grin.
彼女は一日中にこにこしていた。
She was grinning all day.
いたずらが成功して、彼はにやりとした。
His prank succeeded, and he grinned.
English often uses 'grin' as a noun, but Japanese more naturally uses verbs or adverbs. Instead of 'He had a grin on his face', say '彼はにっこり笑った' or '彼はにやりとした'. Using 笑顔 (smile) is possible but less specific.
彼はにんまりとほほえんだ。
He grinned smugly.
彼は苦笑いしながら首を振った。
He shook his head with a wry grin.