凶相毕露 (xiōng xiàng bì lù) — (idiom) to show one's true ferocious colors; to unleash all one's ferocity

Definition

Idiom meaning hidden viciousness is fully revealed. Implies a sudden, dramatic shift from a previously restrained or deceptive front to outright ferocity.

idiom
to show one's true ferocious colorsto unleash all one's ferocity

Examples

  • ，凶相毕露，。
    Tán pàn pò liè hòu, duì fāng zhōng yú xiōng xiàng bì lù, wēi xié yào cǎi qǔ jí duān shǒu duàn.
    After the negotiations broke down, the other side finally showed their true ferocious colors, threatening to take extreme measures.
  • 凶相毕露，。
    Xiǎo shuō lǐ de fǎn pài zài zuì hòu yì zhāng xiōng xiàng bì lù, lù chū le zhēng níng de miàn mù.
    In the novel, the villain revealed his ferocity in the final chapter, showing his hideous face.
  • ，凶相毕露，。
    Tā píng shí wēn wén ěr yǎ, yí dàn shè jí lì yì jiù xiōng xiàng bì lù, ràng rén bù hán ér lì.
    He is usually gentle and refined, but once interests are involved, he shows his ferocious side, sending chills down people's spines.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

凶相ferocious appearance
凶xiōngferocious相xiāngappearance
偏正Modifier + head
毕露fully revealed
毕bìfully露lùreveal
偏正Modifier + head

凶相 (ferocious appearance) and 毕露 (fully revealed) describe a savage look showing itself completely.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

凶 originally drew a hole with a lump of rock, mud, stone, or bamboo in it.

Open 凶 →

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

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

Open 相 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 畢; 毕 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 畢 combines 田 (field) and 𠦒 (net), showing a net used for hunting in a field.

Open 毕 →

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
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
路
路lù露lù
Same sound today

露 pairs 雨, a rain-related meaning part, with 路, a sound part.

Open 露 →

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