Meaning and Usage
"愁眉苦脸" describes a facial expression full of worry, anxiety, or distress. It literally combines the characters for "worried eyebrows" and "bitter face," vividly portraying someone who looks troubled or unhappy.
Common Contexts
This phrase is often used to describe someone who is visibly upset or stressed, such as after receiving bad news, facing difficulties, or dealing with personal problems. It is a descriptive idiom rather than a formal or literary term, commonly used in everyday speech and writing.
Collocations and Patterns
- 愁眉苦脸地看着 (look at something with a worried/distressed face): emphasizes the visible emotion.
- 愁眉苦脸地走路 (walk with a worried/distressed expression): shows mood through body language.
- 一副愁眉苦脸 (a look of worry and distress): a common way to describe someone's overall expression.
Nuances
Using "愁眉苦脸" implies a strong emotional state that is clearly visible on the face. It often suggests that the person is deeply troubled rather than just mildly concerned. Avoid confusing it with lighter expressions of worry like "担心" or "忧虑," which do not necessarily imply such a pronounced facial expression.
Tone and Register
This idiom is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese. It is not formal or literary but is widely understood and used in daily conversation, news reports, and narrative writing.
Meaning and Usage
"愁眉苦脸" describes a facial expression full of worry, anxiety, or distress. It literally combines the characters for "worried eyebrows" and "bitter face," vividly portraying someone who looks troubled or unhappy.
Common Contexts
This phrase is often used to describe someone who is visibly upset or stressed, such as after receiving bad news, facing difficulties, or dealing with personal problems. It is a descriptive idiom rather than a formal or literary term, commonly used in everyday speech and writing.
Collocations and Patterns
- 愁眉苦脸地看着 (look at something with a worried/distressed face): emphasizes the visible emotion.
- 愁眉苦脸地走路 (walk with a worried/distressed expression): shows mood through body language.
- 一副愁眉苦脸 (a look of worry and distress): a common way to describe someone's overall expression.
Nuances
Using "愁眉苦脸" implies a strong emotional state that is clearly visible on the face. It often suggests that the person is deeply troubled rather than just mildly concerned. Avoid confusing it with lighter expressions of worry like "担心" or "忧虑," which do not necessarily imply such a pronounced facial expression.
Tone and Register
This idiom is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese. It is not formal or literary but is widely understood and used in daily conversation, news reports, and narrative writing.
Meaning and Usage
"愁眉苦脸" describes a facial expression full of worry, anxiety, or distress. It literally combines the characters for "worried eyebrows" and "bitter face," vividly portraying someone who looks troubled or unhappy.
Common Contexts
This phrase is often used to describe someone who is visibly upset or stressed, such as after receiving bad news, facing difficulties, or dealing with personal problems. It is a descriptive idiom rather than a formal or literary term, commonly used in everyday speech and writing.
Collocations and Patterns
- 愁眉苦脸地看着 (look at something with a worried/distressed face): emphasizes the visible emotion.
- 愁眉苦脸地走路 (walk with a worried/distressed expression): shows mood through body language.
- 一副愁眉苦脸 (a look of worry and distress): a common way to describe someone's overall expression.
Nuances
Using "愁眉苦脸" implies a strong emotional state that is clearly visible on the face. It often suggests that the person is deeply troubled rather than just mildly concerned. Avoid confusing it with lighter expressions of worry like "担心" or "忧虑," which do not necessarily imply such a pronounced facial expression.
Tone and Register
This idiom is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese. It is not formal or literary but is widely understood and used in daily conversation, news reports, and narrative writing.