笑脸

• Pinyin: xiào liǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 笑 = 竹 (bamboo) + 夭 (young), depicting someone bending with laughter; 脸 = 月 (flesh) + 佥 (all), meaning face

Meaning

Smiling face; smile. A face showing a happy or pleased expression.

Can refer to a literal smiling face or be used figuratively. Common expressions: 笑脸相迎 (greet with a smile), 满脸笑容 is similar but emphasizes the smile itself. Also refers to emoji/emoticons: 笑脸表情.

Examples

1. 服务员总是笑脸相迎，让顾客感到很舒服。 The waiters always greet customers with smiling faces, making them feel comfortable.
2. 看到孩子天真的笑脸，所有的疲惫都消失了。 Seeing the child's innocent smiling face, all fatigue disappeared.
3. 他对每个人都是笑脸，很难知道他真正在想什么。 He shows a smiling face to everyone; it's hard to know what he's really thinking.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, descriptive, service

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 她总是带着笑脸。(She always has a smiling face.)
• 请给客人一个笑脸。(Please give the guest a smile.)

Don't Say

• 他给了我一个大笑脸 — 稍显不自然，说'他对我笑了笑'或'他满脸笑容'更好

Origin & History

Compound of 笑 (to laugh, smile) + 脸 (face). A straightforward descriptive compound for a smiling face.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal