Chinese word

笑脸

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiào liǎn

Meaning

  • nounsmile

Example

他见到我就露出笑脸。tā jiàn dào wǒ jiù lù chū xiào liǎn

He smiles as soon as he sees me.

Illustration for 笑脸 (smile)

More examples

在饭店门口，服务员总是以笑脸迎客。zài fàn diàn mén kǒu fú wù yuán zǒng shì yǐ xiào liǎn yíng kè

At the restaurant entrance, the server always welcomes customers with a smile.

Core concept

A smiling face that makes friendliness and pleasure visible.

Common phrases

  • 露出笑脸lù chū xiào liǎn

    show a smile

  • 带着笑脸dài zhe xiào liǎn

    wear a smile

  • 脸上挂着笑脸liǎn shàng guà zhe xiào liǎn

    have a smile on one's face

Similar words

笑容xiào róng: A cheerful, pleasant expression shown across the face.
微笑wēi xiào: A light, silent smile or the expression it creates.
表情biǎo qíng: The feelings and mood shown by changes in the face.

Definition in Chinese

指带着笑容的面部表情，用以表示友好、愉快或善意。zhǐ dài zhe xiào róng de miàn bù biǎo qíng yòng yǐ biǎo shì yóu hǎo yú kuài huò shàn yì

Word origin

The compound 笑脸 (xiàoliǎn, "smiling face") joins 笑 (xiào, "smile") with 脸 (liǎn, "face"), so its meaning stays centered on a smile seen in the face.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this word often describes the pleasant expression shown in a social encounter, so it can refer to outward friendliness without stating how the person truly feels.

Opposites

  • 愁容chóu róngworried looknoun
  • 怒容nù róngangry looknoun

Related words

  • 笑脸儿xiào liǎnrsmiling facenoun
  • 笑脸相迎xiào liǎn xiāng yíngwelcome with a smileidiom

Word lists with this word