bitter smile; grimace; forced laugh from pain
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to laugh bitterly; to give a forced/pained smile
literaryDescribes a facial expression where the physical act of smiling or laughing is in stark contrast to the emotional pain or distress felt internally. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
Tīng听
dào到
zhè这
ge个
è噩
hào耗
，
tā他
zhǐ只
shì是
cǎn惨
xiào笑
le了
yī一
shēng声
，
shén什
me么
yě也
méi没
shuō说
。
Hearing the tragic news, he just gave a bitter laugh and said nothing.
Tā他
cǎn惨
xiào笑
zhe着
yáo摇
le了
yáo摇
tóu头
，
jiē接
shòu受
le了
zhè这
ge个
wú无
nài奈
de的
xiàn现
shí实
。
He grimaced and shook his head, accepting this helpless reality.
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Miàn面
duì对
shī失
bài败
，
tā他
méi没
yǒu有
kū哭
qì泣
，
zhǐ只
shì是
lù露
chū出
le了
yī一
sī丝
cǎn惨
xiào笑
。
Facing failure, he didn't cry; he only showed a faint, pained smile.