哭笑不得 kūxiào-bùdé literally not to know whether to laugh or cry
literally not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom); both funny and extremely embarrassing; between laughter and tears
How to remember 哭笑不得: 哭 cry + 笑 laugh + 不 not + 得 get = literally not to know whether to laugh or cry.
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How it is used
- Idiom: not knowing whether to laugh or cry - caught between amusement and exasperation: 他的回答让人哭笑不得 (tā de huídá ràng rén kūxiào-bùdé) his answer left you not knowing whether to laugh or groan.
- Describes an awkwardly absurd situation. Colloquial and written.