怪相 (guài xiàng) — odd or funny facial expression; grimace

Definition

A noun for an odd, strange, or funny facial expression — a grimace. Typically used with 做 (make) or 露出 (appear on the face).

noun

odd or funny facial expressiongrimace

怪相，。
Tā zuò le yí gè guài xiàng, bǎ dà jiā dōu dòu xiào le.
He made a funny face and made everyone laugh.
怪相，。
Bié zuò guài xiàng, hǎo hǎo huí dá wèn tí.
Don't make faces; answer the question properly.
，怪相。
Tā tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi shí, liǎn shàng lù chū yì zhǒng guài xiàng.
When she heard the news, a strange expression appeared on her face.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

相xiāngappearance

“怪” (odd) and “相” (appearance) make an odd look or grimace.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

忄圣怪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

圣

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

怪 is built from 忄, a form of 心, which relates to mind or feeling, and 圣, which gives the sound.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

木目相

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”