素す顔がお

す

が

お

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

face without makeup; unpainted face

Refers to a person's natural face without makeup or cosmetic covering. Common in everyday and media language.

今日きょうは素す顔がおで出でかけた。
I went out without makeup today.
彼かの女じょは素す顔がおもきれいだ。
She looks beautiful even without makeup.

2

noun

true face; real nature; true picture

Figurative use for what someone or something is really like behind a public image, official face, or superficial impression.

インタビューで俳はい優ゆうの素す顔がおが見みえた。
The interview revealed the actor's real self.
この番ばん組ぐみは地ち方ほう都と市しの素す顔がおを伝つたえている。
This program shows the true face of regional cities.

3

noun

sober face; sobriety

Rare use referring to a face or state not affected by alcohol. In modern Japanese, 素面（しらふ） is the ordinary word for being sober.

古ふるい用よう法ほうでは、素す顔がおが「酒さけに酔よっていない顔かおつき」を指さすことがある。
In an older usage, 素顔 can refer to a face showing no signs of drunkenness.

Written forms

素す顔がおUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; this is the only written form, with high-priority frequency tags.
すがおUsage1%

Kanji

素elementary, principle, naked
顔face, expression

Similar words

すっぴん
Casual word for a face without makeup; 素顔 is more neutral and can also be used figuratively for a real self or true picture.
本ほん性しょう
Means one's true nature and often has a negative nuance; 素顔 is softer and often means the real self behind a public image.
素面しらふ
The usual modern word for being sober or not drunk; 素顔 has only a rare attested use with that meaning.

Etymology

Compound of 素, associated with being plain or unadorned, and 顔, 'face.' This transparently supports the literal sense 'unmade-up face'; the figurative 'true face' sense extends from that idea.