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愁眉苦脸 (chóu méi kǔ liǎn) — to wear a worried or miserable expression; to look anxious or dejected

Definition

A vivid set phrase (成语) meaning 'to wear a long, miserable face' — furrowed brows and a pained look. Implies the person is visibly upset about something; not a one-off frown.

phrase
to wear a worried or miserable expressionto look anxious or dejected

Examples

  • ，愁眉苦脸。
    Tā kǎo shì méi kǎo hǎo, zhěng tiān chóu méi kǔ liǎn de.
    He failed the exam and has been looking miserable all day.
  • 愁眉苦脸，。
    Bié zǒng shì chóu méi kǔ liǎn, shì qing huì hǎo qǐ lái de.
    Don't always wear a worried look; things will get better.
  • 愁眉苦脸。
    Tā chóu méi kǔ liǎn dì kàn zhe bèi dǎ suì de bēi zi.
    He stared at the broken cup with a miserable expression.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

愁眉worried brows
愁chóuworried眉méibrows
偏正Modifier + head
苦脸bitter face
苦kǔbitter脸liǎnface
偏正Modifier + head

Worried brows and a bitter face together describe an anxious, miserable expression.

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
秋
秋qiū愁chóu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

愁 combines 秋, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart.

Open 愁 →

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

眉 originally showed 𠃜, hair, above 目, an eye.

Open 眉 →

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
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ苦kǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 艸 shows grass or plants, matching the sense of bitter plants. The bottom 古 gives the sound.

Open 苦 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.