English–Chinese
“smile bitterly” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinkǔ xiào
Example
听到这个解释，我只能苦笑。tīng dào zhè ge jiě shì wǒ zhǐ néng kǔ xiào
Hearing this explanation, I could only smile bitterly.
How to say “smile bitterly” in Chinese
“Smile bitterly” in Chinese is 苦笑 (kǔ xiào).
A smile that appears when a situation feels awkward, difficult, or unavoidable, carrying tension instead of real pleasure.
Example sentences with 苦笑
大家听完后只能苦笑着摇头。dà jiā tīng wán hòu zhǐ néng kǔ xiào zhe yáo tóu
After hearing it, everyone could only smile bitterly and shake their heads.
Tips for using 苦笑
- For English speakers, "bitter" can suggest anger or resentment, but 苦笑 (kǔxiào, "bitter smile") also covers an awkward or helpless smile without strong anger.