Definition
嬉皮笑脸 is a four-character idiom (chengyu) describing someone who wears a cheeky, insincere grin, often in a frivolous or disrespectful way. It is used to criticize someone who doesn't take a situation seriously and instead puts on a playful or mockingly cheerful expression. The literal image is of a grinning, cheeky face, but the actual meaning conveys disapproval of the flippant attitude.
idiom
grinning cheekilywearing a frivolous smilebeing insincerely playful
Examples
- 嬉皮笑脸，。Tā zǒngshì zài yánsù chǎnghé xī pí xiào liǎn de, ràng rén juéde hěn tǎoyàn.He always grins cheekily in serious situations, which people find very annoying.
- 嬉皮笑脸，。Bié xī pí xiào liǎn le, wǒmen shuō zhèngshì ba.Stop grinning cheekily; let's talk about business.
- 嬉皮笑脸，。Tā nà fù xī pí xiào liǎn de yàngzi, yí kàn jiù bú shì zhēnxīn de.The way he looks with that cheeky grin tells you he's not sincere.
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