Translation guide
Expressing displeasure or sulkiness by pushing out the lips, or describing a similar facial expression. Japanese has several words and phrases to describe pouting, depending on the nuance—whether it's a childish sulk, a cute gesture, or a sign of anger.
To describe a child or someone acting childishly pushing out their lips in a sulky way.
Literally 'to make one's mouth pointed'. This is the most direct and common way to describe pouting, often used for children or when someone is sulking.
妹は怒って口をとがらせた。
My little sister got angry and pouted.
He was pouting with dissatisfaction.
A verb meaning 'to swell' or 'to puff out', often used for cheeks when pouting or sulking. Can also mean to get sulky.
子供は叱られてふくれた。
The child was scolded and pouted.
彼女はふくれた顔をしている。
She has a pouting face.
A noun meaning 'pouting face' or 'sulky look'. Often used in the phrase ふくれっ面をする.
彼はいつもふくれっ面をしている。
He always has a pout on his face.
Similar to ふくれる, but often implies a more peevish or sullen attitude. Can mean 'to become sulky' or 'to pout'.
注意したらむくれてしまった。
When I warned him, he got all sulky.
To describe a deliberate, often cute pout, like making duck lips for a selfie.
Literally 'to purse one's lips'. This is used for the deliberate, often cute pout, like when taking a photo.
彼女は写真を撮るとき、いつも口をすぼめる。
She always pouts her lips when taking a photo.
Literally 'duck mouth'. A slang term for the duck-face pout often seen in selfies.
あひる口の自撮りが流行っている。
Duck-face selfies are popular.
To describe a pout that shows real anger or strong displeasure, not just a childish sulk.
Literally 'to make one's mouth into the shape of the hiragana へ'. This describes a downturned mouth, a classic pout of displeasure or anger.
彼は口をへの字にして怒っていた。
He was angry, his mouth turned down in a pout.
A general phrase meaning 'sullen face' or 'displeased look', which often includes a pout.
彼女は不機嫌な顔で座っていた。
She sat there with a pout on her face.
Both mean 'to pout' or 'to sulk', but ふくれる focuses more on the physical swelling of cheeks, while むくれる emphasizes the sullen, peevish attitude. ふくれる is more common for children, むくれる can be used for adults acting childishly.
子供がふくれて泣き出した。
The child puffed out his cheeks and started crying.
彼はむくれて部屋を出て行った。
He got all sulky and left the room.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'pout' in all contexts. Using phrases like 口をとがらせる or ふくれる is more natural than trying to find a one-word equivalent.