facial feature
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facial feature
An individual feature of the face, such as the shape of the nose, mouth, or eyes, that contributes to the overall impression. The word is usually used in the plural.
Er hatte die markanten Gesichtszüge seines Vaters geerbt.
He had inherited his father's striking facial features.
features
In elevated, figurative usage, a characteristic quality or feature of something abstract, such as an era, an art movement, or an idea.
Sein Werk trägt die typischen Gesichtszüge der Romantik.
His work bears the typical features of Romanticism.
The word is made up of 'Gesicht' (face) and 'Zug' (feature/line). Here, a 'Zug' can mean a line or a feature. So a 'Gesichtszug' is literally a characteristic feature of the face.
Ihre sanften Gesichtszüge erinnerten ihn an seine Mutter.
Her gentle facial features reminded him of his mother.
Although there is a singular form, 'Gesichtszug' is almost always used in the plural ('die Gesichtszüge' — the facial features). People usually talk about the whole set of features, not just a single one.
Die Gesichtszüge der alten Frau erzählten eine lange Geschichte.
The old woman's facial features told a long story.
'Gesichtszüge' (facial features) is often combined with certain adjectives to describe the character of a face. Common examples are 'markante' (striking), 'feine' (delicate), 'sanfte' (gentle), or 'harte' (hard) Gesichtszüge.
Das Model hatte sehr markante Gesichtszüge.
The model had very striking facial features.
In the figurative meaning, 'Gesichtszüge' (features) describes the typical characteristics of abstract things such as an era, a culture, or a work of art. The expression 'die Gesichtszüge von etwas tragen' (to bear the features of something) is common here.
Der Roman trägt die düsteren Gesichtszüge seiner Zeit.
The novel bears the dark features of its time.
facial expression
Both words can be used when describing a face. Gesichtsausdruck shows a person's current mood or reaction, while a Gesichtszug refers to a single, usually permanent feature such as the mouth, eyes, or nose. Use Gesichtsausdruck for a current emotion and Gesichtszüge for the lasting overall impression.
Seine markanten Gesichtszüge erinnerten mich an seinen Vater.
His distinctive facial features reminded me of his father.
Sein trauriger Gesichtsausdruck verriet seine Enttäuschung.
His sad facial expression revealed his disappointment.
