nhăn mặt
Definition
Verb: - To pull a wry face: To contort or wrinkle one's face, typically expressing dislike, disapproval, discomfort, or pain. - To grimace: To make an ugly, twisted expression on the face to convey pain, disgust, or other negative feelings.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy nhăn mặt khi nếm phải chanh. (She grimaced when she tasted the lemon.)
- Đứa trẻ nhăn mặt vì đau bụng. (The child pulled a wry face because of a stomachache.)
- Ông ấy nhăn mặt tỏ ý không hài lòng. (He grimaced to show his dissatisfaction.)
Advanced Usage
- The action is often involuntary and is a direct physical reaction to an immediate stimulus, such as a sour taste, physical pain, or an unpleasant sight.
- It can be used metaphorically in descriptions to indicate a negative reaction to an idea or situation.
- Anh ấy nhăn mặt khi nghe đề xuất đó. (He grimaced upon hearing that proposal.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nhăn nhó (v): To grimace or whine repeatedly, often implying a more sustained or complaining expression of discomfort.
- Cậu bé nhăn nhó suốt buổi chiều. (The boy was grimacing/whining all afternoon.)
- Cau mặt (v): To frown, to scowl. This focuses more on knitting the brows in anger, concentration, or worry, rather than a full facial contortion.
- Cô ấy cau mặt vì bực mình. (She frowned in annoyance.)
Synonyms
- Grimace: To make a twisted expression.
- Make a face: To distort one's face to show feeling.
- Pucker one's face: To wrinkle or tighten facial features.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Nhăn mặt nhăn mũi: To grimace intensely, wrinkling both the face and nose. This emphasizes a stronger, more exaggerated reaction.
- Nó nhăn mặt nhăn mũi khi uống thuốc đắng. (He grimaced intensely when drinking the bitter medicine.)
verb
-
to pull a wry face
