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哭笑不得 kū xiào bù dé — lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom)

kū (first tone, high and level) xiào (fourth tone, falling) bù (fourth tone, falling) dé (second tone, rising)ku1 xiao4 bu4 de2

lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom)

Levels 7–9· 2021 three-band, nine-level proficiency standardexpression
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Meanings

  1. lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom)

    lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom); both funny and extremely embarrassing; between laughter and tears

    expression

Character breakdown

  • 不
    bù (fourth tone, falling)

    not, no — the general negative, placed before verbs and adjectives

    4 strokesRadical 一