笑容可掬 (xiào róng kě jū) — (idiom) beaming with smiles, radiant with smiles

Definition

A set chengyu meaning someone is visibly smiling — 'beaming with smiles'. The smile is the main point, more vivid than just saying 微笑.

idiom
beaming with smilesradiant with smiles

Examples

  • 笑容可掬，。
    Nà wèi lǎo rén xiào róng kě jū, fēi cháng hé ǎi.
    That elderly person is beaming with smiles, very kind and amiable.
  • 笑容可掬。
    Tā xiào róng kě jū dì yíng jiē měi yí wèi kè rén.
    He greeted every guest with a radiant smile.
  • 笑容可掬。
    Tā xiào róng kě jū de yàng zi ràng rén gǎn dào wēn nuǎn.
    Her beaming expression makes people feel warm.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
艸
艸cǎo笑xiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

An early 笑 used the grass 艸 for the sound and the dog 犬 for the meaning; later it was written with 竹 and 夭.

Open 笑 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng容róng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 容, the 宀 (roof) part points to holding or containing, and 公 gives the sound.

Open 容 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
匊
匊jū掬jū
Same sound today

掬 has 扌 (hand) for the meaning and 匊 for the sound jū.

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