NITTA-RI にったり
Meanings
Describes a silent, broad, somewhat sinister or knowing smile that suggests hidden motives, scheming, or private satisfaction.
Examples
After hearing that his behind-the-scenes maneuvering had worked, he sat alone in his room with a self-satisfied, knowing grin.
Dogmatic Opinion
Unlike NIKKO-RI, NITTA-RI makes me imagine a spontaneous smile of genuine inner satisfaction that is not intended for another person.
The satisfaction may come from a scheme succeeding or from someone else’s misfortune.
You probably do not sit alone in a room and NIKKO-RI. But you might very well sit there alone and NITTA-RI.
That private, slightly unpleasant satisfaction is what separates the two in my mind.
Proximate Expression
grinning
smirk
Related Words
For Japanese Learners
Grin, grin knowingly, smirk, and give a self-satisfied grin may fit. Smirk is especially useful when the smile has an unpleasant or smug quality. Compared with NIKKO-RI, NITTA-RI is far less friendly and can naturally occur when nobody else is present.
