微笑み（ほほえみ、hoほemi）
- smile

The Japanese word 微笑み, read ほほえみ (hohoemi), means "a smile" or "smiling." It refers to the expression on someone's face when they show pleasure, amusement, friendliness, or politeness. It’s the act of smiling or the smile itself. The word can denote a gentle or slight smile, rather than a wide, boisterous laugh. It conveys a sense of warmth and positive emotion. 微笑み can also refer to the expression on someone's face.

⚫︎ 彼女の微笑み Translation: Her smile ⚫︎ 彼は静かに微笑みました。 Translation: He smiled quietly. ⚫︎ その絵の微笑みは、見る人を幸せにする。 Translation: The smile in that picture makes people happy.

⚫︎ Use 微笑み to describe a person's smile or the act of smiling. ⚫︎ It’s suitable for various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal settings. ⚫︎ It implies a gentler, more subtle smile compared to words that indicate laughter or a big grin. ⚫︎ Use it to show someone is pleased, friendly, polite, or amused.

⚫︎ This word is typically written with the kanji 微笑み or in hiragana ほほえみ. ⚫︎ The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is み. ⚫︎ The verb form of "to smile" is 微笑む (hohoemu), which also uses the kanji 微笑む or the hiragana ほほえむ. This verb form means "to smile."

⚫︎ 笑顔 (egao): A smiling face or a smile. This word is more general and can refer to a bigger smile. ⚫︎ 笑い (warai): Laughter or a laugh. This word implies a stronger expression of mirth than 微笑み.

⚫︎ しかめっ面 (shikamezura): A frown or a scowl. ⚫︎ 怒り (ikari): Anger or rage.

彼女は優しい微笑みを浮かべた。 ・Translation: She gave a gentle smile. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone displaying a soft, kind smile.

彼はその知らせを聞いて、ほほえんだ。 ・Translation: He smiled upon hearing the news. ・Explanation: This shows someone reacting to something good or pleasing with a 微笑み.

The word 微笑み is composed of the kanji 微 (bi), meaning "small" or "slight," and 笑み (emi), which means "smile." Therefore, 微笑み literally means "a slight smile." The kanji 笑 (warau) means "to laugh" or "to smile," and 笑み is a noun form of it.