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咧嘴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
咧嘴liězuǐto grinHSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, Very Hard
liězuǐ(lie3zui3)lie zui T3
  1. 1to grin
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March 24, 2026

咧嘴liězuǐ(lie3zui3)

The term 咧嘴 (lie3 zui3) means to grin or to smile broadly, often revealing the teeth. It conveys a sense of joy or amusement and is commonly used in informal contexts to describe someone who is smiling widely, sometimes in a mischievous or playful manner.

Strokes25DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, a broad grin can sometimes signify a playful or cheeky attitude, especially among children. It reflects an openness and approachability, which is valued in social interactions.

Memory tip

Imagine a cat that has just caught a mouse and is grinning widely, showing its teeth. The character 咧 (lie) resembles a mouth opening wide, while 嘴 (zui) refers specifically to the mouth; together, they depict the action of grinning.

Meanings of 咧嘴

liězuǐ(lie3zui3)
1to grin
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About 咧嘴

咧嘴Simplified
25Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 咧嘴

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Podcast: 咧嘴

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AI study notes for 咧嘴

Quick Contrast

咧嘴 (liězuǐ) vs 微笑 (wēixiào) — use 咧嘴 for a broad, playful grin, while 微笑 refers to a gentle, subtle smile.

Usage Notes

This term is informal and often used in casual conversations. Be cautious with tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing either syllable can change the meaning. Common collocations include '咧嘴笑' (grinning smile) or '咧嘴而笑' (to grin and laugh).

HSK Study Tips

Although not specifically categorized within HSK levels, learners should focus on recognizing the components of the characters and their phonetics. It connects well with other words describing facial expressions and emotions, which are key themes in early Mandarin studies.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 咧嘴 with other words for smile, such as 微笑 (wei1 xiao4), which is more formal. For example, saying '我咧嘴' (wo3 lie3 zui3) without context can sound odd; instead, use '我咧嘴笑' (wo3 lie3 zui3 xiao4) to clarify you're grinning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 咧嘴

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Component characters

咧liēto grimace, to grin
9 strokes口
View full entry
嘴zuǐmouth
HSK 316 strokes口
View full entry

How to say to grin in Chinese

“to grin” in Chinese is咧嘴liězuǐ

The term 咧嘴 (lie3 zui3) means to grin or to smile broadly, often revealing the teeth. It conveys a sense of joy or amusement and is commonly used in informal contexts to describe someone who is smiling widely, sometimes in a mischievous or playful manner.

When to use 咧嘴

This term is informal and often used in casual conversations. Be cautious with tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing either syllable can change the meaning. Common collocations include '咧嘴笑' (grinning smile) or '咧嘴而笑' (to grin and laugh).

咧嘴 or something close to it

咧嘴 (liězuǐ) vs 微笑 (wēixiào) — use 咧嘴 for a broad, playful grin, while 微笑 refers to a gentle, subtle smile.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 咧嘴 with other words for smile, such as 微笑 (wei1 xiao4), which is more formal. For example, saying '我咧嘴' (wo3 lie3 zui3) without context can sound odd; instead, use '我咧嘴笑' (wo3 lie3 zui3 xiao4) to clarify you're grinning.

Write 咧嘴

咧
嘴

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Cultural Notes for 咧嘴

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, grinning is often seen as a universal sign of happiness, but in Chinese culture, the context of the grin can imply other emotions, such as mischief or irony, depending on the situation.

Frequently asked questions about 咧嘴

No, 咧嘴 is informal and best used in casual conversations.

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