一颦一笑 (yī pín yī xiào) — every facial expression (of an attractive or important person); the slightest change in one's expression; (literary) a person's every look and smile (as something that draws attention or conveys meaning)
Definition
A chengyu meaning every frown and smile — every shift in expression, usually of a beauty or notable person. A literary flourish; not used in plain everyday speech.
idiom
every facial expression (of an attractive or important person)the slightest change in one's expression(literary) a person's every look and smile (as something that draws attention or conveys meaning)
Examples
- 一颦一笑。Tā de yī pín yī xiào dōu ràng rén xīn dòng bù yǐ.Every frown and smile of hers makes people's hearts flutter.
- 一颦一笑。Zhè wèi míng xīng de yī pín yī xiào dōu bèi fěn sī men zǐ xì jì lù.Every facial expression of this celebrity is carefully recorded by fans.
- ，一颦一笑。Zài gǔ shī cí zhōng, měi rén de yī pín yī xiào cháng bèi yòng lái biǎo dá shēn qíng.In classical poetry, a beauty's every smile and frown is often used to express deep affection.
Origin
Compound word构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side
Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.
The two parts 一颦 and 一笑 put frowning and smiling side by side, meaning every look or smile.
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