Definition
This is a four-character idiom literally meaning 'disheveled hair and dirty face' — it describes someone who looks extremely unkempt or slovenly, often because they haven't washed or tidied themselves up. You use it to emphasize a neglected or rough appearance, whether from exhaustion, laziness, or difficult circumstances.
idiom
disheveled and grubbyunkempt appearance
Examples
- ，蓬头垢面，。Tā gāng cóng gōngdì huílái, péng tóu gòu miàn de, kàn qǐlái fēicháng píbèi.He just came back from the construction site, completely disheveled and looking very exhausted.
- ，蓬头垢面。Tā zuìjìn tài máng le, chángcháng péng tóu gòu miàn jiù qù kāihuì.She's been so busy lately that she often goes to meetings looking totally unkempt.
- ，蓬头垢面，。Duō nián bú jiàn, tā biàn de péng tóu gòu miàn, wánquán méi le dāngnián de yīngqì.I hadn't seen him for years; he had become disheveled and ragged, completely losing the dashing look he once had.
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