Translation guide
How to describe someone's facial expression or demeanor when they appear unhappy, annoyed, or dissatisfied.
To say someone looks generally displeased, unhappy, or dissatisfied.
A common, natural way to say someone looks displeased or in a bad mood. Literally 'making a displeased-looking face'.
彼は不機嫌そうな顔をしていた。
He looked displeased.
Focuses on dissatisfaction or discontent. 'Making a dissatisfied face'.
To describe a more specific displeased expression involving a frown or scowl.
When displeasure is closer to anger or irritation.
Directly means 'making an angry face'. Use when displeasure is clearly anger.
彼は怒った顔をしていた。
He looked angry/displeased.
不機嫌 (fukigen) is a general bad mood/displeasure. 不満 (fuman) is dissatisfaction with something specific. 怒った (okotta) is outright anger. Choose based on intensity and cause.
Attach そう to the stem of an adjective to mean 'looks/seems'. E.g., 不機嫌そう (fukigen-sou) = looks displeased. This is very natural and common.
彼女は不満そうな顔をしていた。
She looked displeased.
An adverb describing a sullen, glum, or displeased look, often used with する or している.
彼はむっつりしている。
He looks displeased/sullen.
A noun meaning a sour look, sulky face, or long face. Somewhat colloquial.
彼は仏頂面をしている。
He has a displeased look on his face.
Literally 'to knit one's brows', indicating a frown of displeasure, disapproval, or worry.
彼はその言葉に眉をひそめた。
He frowned at those words.
To grimace or make a wry face, often from displeasure, pain, or disgust.
彼女は苦い薬に顔をしかめた。
She made a displeased face at the bitter medicine.
A noun for a grimace or scowl. Often used with をする.
彼はしかめっ面をした。
He scowled/made a displeased face.
Describes an irritated, annoyed look. 'Making an irritated face'.
彼女はいらいらした顔で待っていた。
She was waiting with a displeased/irritated look.