Japanese word

眼差し

Pronunciation

Romajimanazashi

Meaning

  • nounlook

Example

彼女は私に穏やかな眼差しを向けました。kano jo wa watashi ni oda ya ka na manaza shi o mu ke ma shi ta

She gave me a calm look.

Illustration for 眼差し (look)

More examples

彼は質問に答える前に、相手の眼差しを静かに受け止めました。kare wa shitsu mon ni kota e ru mae ni ai te no manaza shi o shizu ka ni u ke to me ma shi ta

Before answering the question, he calmly met the other person's gaze.

Core concept

Refers to the way a person looks at something or someone and the emotional quality carried by that look.

Common phrases

  • 眼差しを向けるmanaza shi o mu ke ru

    direct one's gaze

  • 優しい眼差しyasa shi i manaza shi

    gentle gaze

  • 鋭い眼差しsurudo i manaza shi

    sharp gaze

Similar words

視線shisen: The direction in which a person looks at someone or something.
目つきmetsuki: The expression or manner shown by a person's eyes.
眼光gankō: The force or sharpness expressed in a person's eyes.

Definition in Japanese

人や物に向ける目つきや、その目つきから伝わる感情。hito ya mono ni mu ke ru me tsu ki ya so no me tsu ki ka ra tsuta wa ru kan jō

Word origin

The Japanese word 眼差し (manazashi), also written 目差し (manazashi), consists of まな (mana, "eye") and 差し (sashi, "directing toward"), linking the eyes with the act of looking.

Usage tips

  • In contemporary Japanese, 眼差し (manazashi) has a more literary and polished tone than everyday look, so it often appears in narration, essays, and careful conversation.

Other meanings

  • gazenoun

Word lists with this word