break into a smile; beam
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to break into a smile; to beam; to burst into a smile
literaryLiterally meaning "to break [the severity of] one's face," indicating a sudden change from a serious, sad, or tense expression to a smile. Most commonly used in the phrase 破颜一笑 or 破颜而笑.
Tīng听
dào到
zhè这
gè个
hǎo好
xiāo消
xi息
，
tā她
zhōng终
yú于
pò破
yán颜
ér而
xiào笑
。
Hearing the good news, she finally broke into a smile.
Yuán原
běn本
yán严
sù肃
de的
lǎo老
shī师
yě也
bù不
jīn禁
pò破
yán颜
。
Even the originally serious teacher couldn't help breaking into a smile.
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Tā他
pò破
yán颜
yī一
xiào笑
，
jǐn紧
zhāng张
de的
qì气
fēn氛
dùn顿
shí时
huǎn缓
hé和
le了
。
He broke into a smile, and the tense atmosphere immediately eased.