哭天抹泪

哭天抹淚
kūtiān-mǒlèi
idiom

Meanings

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

Examples

HSK 6
Diū le diǎn xiǎoqián, fànbuzháo kūtiān-mǒlèi de.
Losing a bit of money isn't worth crying your eyes out over.
HSK 7-9
Tā yī shòu wěiqu jiù kūtiān-mǒlèi, ràng rén hěn wúnài.
The moment she feels wronged she wails and whines - it's exhausting.

Tips

history
The phrase appears in Cao Xueqin's 18th-century novel 《红楼梦》 (Hónglóumèng, Dream of the Red Chamber) chapter 32: 前日不知为什么撵出去,在家里哭天抹泪 - 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