哭天抹泪

哭天抹淚
kūtiānmǒlèi
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to wail and whine
  2. 2 to weep piteously
  3. 3 to cry one's eyes out

Examples

Tā yī shòu wěiqu jiù kūtiān mǒlèi, ràng rén hěn wúnài.
The moment she feels wronged she wails and whines — it's exhausting.
Diūle diǎn xiǎo qián, fànbuzháo kūtiān mǒlèi de.
Losing a bit of money isn't worth crying your eyes out over.

Tips

history
The phrase appears in Cao Xueqin's 18th-century novel 《红楼梦》 (Hónglóumèng, Dream of the Red Chamber) chapter 32: 不知为什么出去在家哭天抹泪 — describing a maid sent home in disgrace, weeping inconsolably.
register
Slightly mocking. Used about someone whose tears feel disproportionate or theatrical, not for sincere grief.

Stroke Order

tiān
lèi