顩 (yǎn) - To bare one's teeth & to grin

顩Tone 3

yǎn ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

顩 · yǎn

To bare one's teeth;

to grin;

to expose teeth in a grimace or smile.

To bare one's teethto grinto expose teeth in a grimace or smile.

Usage highlights

Baring teethTooth exposureGrinning faceBare teeth angrilySmile showing teeth

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He grinned broadly (顩齿而笑).
  • The angry dog bared its teeth (狗顩齿示威).
  • She gave a toothy smile (她顩齿一笑).

Collocations

  • Baring teeth(顩齿)
  • Tooth exposure(齿顩)
  • Grinning face(顩面)
  • Bare teeth angrily(怒而顩齿)
  • Smile showing teeth(笑而顩齿)

Idioms

  • Baring teeth and brandishing claws(顩齿舞爪)
  • Grinning from ear to ear(顩齿而笑)
  • Baring fangs and brandishing claws(顩牙舞爪)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character depicts the physical action of exposing teeth, often used to describe expressions ranging from friendly smiles to threatening grimaces.
  • In classical literature, it appears in descriptions of both human expressions and animal behavior.
  • The character is relatively rare in modern usage but preserved in some classical texts and idioms.

FAQ