苦笑

kǔxiào

verb HSK 7-9 #42,906

Meanings

1 to force a smile
2 to smile bitterly
3 a bitter laugh

Characters

to laugh; to smile

Examples

他听完只能苦笑。

Tā tīng wán zhǐnéng kǔxiào.

After hearing it, all he could do was smile bitterly.

她苦笑着摇了摇头。

Tā kǔxiào zhe yáo le yáotóu.

She forced a smile and shook her head.

Tips

usage

苦笑 describes a smile that comes from helplessness or awkwardness, not genuine amusement. It often appears in novels and narration as 苦笑着说 (said with a bitter smile).

Stroke Order

苦 kǔ

笑 xiào