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嘴脸 (zuǐ liǎn) — (pejorative) facial expression, countenance; one's true colors (derog.)

Definition

嘴脸 (zuǐ liǎn) means a person's "true colors" as shown in their face — always negative, used to condemn someone's ugly or hypocritical expression. Stronger and more insulting than simply calling a face 脸 or describing looks.

noun
(pejorative) facial expressioncountenanceone's true colors (derog.)

Examples

  • 嘴脸。
    Tā nà fù xū wěi de zuǐ liǎn ràng rén kàn le jiù tǎo yàn.
    That hypocritical look on his face is disgusting to see.
  • 嘴脸。
    Tā zhōng yú zài dà jiā miàn qián lù chū le zì jǐ de zuǐ liǎn.
    He finally showed his true colors in front of everyone.
  • 嘴脸。
    Diàn yǐng lǐ nà ge fǎn pài de zuǐ liǎn hěn nán kàn.
    The villain's expression in that movie is really ugly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

嘴zuǐmouth
脸liǎnface

'嘴' mouth and '脸' face are parallel body parts, giving the idea of a face or look.

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
觜
觜zī嘴
Same sound today

嘴 pairs 口 (mouth) with 觜, which supplies its sound.

Open 嘴 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臉; 脸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròubody part
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān臉liǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 臉 combines ⺼ (肉, body part) with 僉 as a sound part; the simplified 脸 is a later abbreviation.

Open 脸 →
Appears in
Body PartsPersonality & Traits

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