Kiki Semaru (鬼気迫る - Serious/Ghastly)

Kiki Semaru

I sometimes see actors/actresses who have a face described as 'kiki semaru' (鬼気迫る) in movies and dramas.

'Kiki semaru' means that something is extremely serious or ghastly, and it is often attached to 'kao' (顔 - "face"), 'hyōjō' (表情 - "facial expression"), 'engi' (演技 - "performance"), or 'fun-iki' (雰囲気 - "atmosphere").

'Ki' (鬼) means "ogre," 'ki' (気) means "feeling" or "whiff," and 'semaru' (迫る) means "to approach," so the literal meaning of 'kiki semaru' is "a whiff of an ogre is approaching."

If you feel a creepy whiff of an ogre, your face and behavior will be very serious and ghastly.

This expression represents such seriousness.

鬼気迫る

映画やドラマの中で、役者はしばしば「鬼気迫る」表情をしています。

「鬼気迫る」は「恐ろしいほど真剣なさま」を意味する表現で、「顔」や「表情」、「演技」、「雰囲気」など修飾します。

「鬼」は "ogre"、「気」は "feeling/whiff "、「迫る」は "to approach" を意味するので、「鬼気迫る」の文字どおりの意味は "a whiff of an ogre is approaching" となります。

鬼の不気味な気配が近づくとき、あなたの顔や行為はきっと恐ろしく真剣なものになります。

「鬼気迫る」はそのような真剣さを表す言葉というわけです。