Definition
This is a fixed colloquial expression meaning to laugh so hard or be so amused that you can't close your mouth — grinning from ear to ear. It's often used after hearing a joke, seeing something funny, or feeling extremely happy. The literal meaning is 'cannot close the mouth'. Note: the standard pronunciation is hé bù lǒng zuǐ, not gě.
v.p.
to grin from ear to earto be unable to stop smiling
Examples
- ，合不拢嘴。Tā jiǎng le yí gè xiàohua, dòu de dàjiā xiào de gě.He told a joke, and it made everyone laugh so hard they couldn't stop smiling.
- ，合不拢嘴。Tīng dào bèi lùqǔ de xiāoxi, tā gāoxìng de gě.When she heard she was accepted, she was so happy she couldn't stop grinning.
- ，合不拢嘴。Kàn le nà bù xǐjù diànyǐng, guānzhòng gège gě.After watching that comedy film, every audience member was grinning from ear to ear.
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