📖 Meaning
Describes a fierce, vicious, and menacing facial expression or appearance. It is commonly used to portray someone revealing their cruel and intimidating true nature, especially when their previously hidden hostility comes to light.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no single classical literary origin but is a compound formed from two established terms. "狰狞" (zhēng níng) means fierce and ferocious, used in classical texts to describe savage beasts or menacing demeanor. "面目" (miàn mù) means face or appearance, frequently appearing in older idioms to denote one's outward look or true character. Combined, the phrase has been used in modern Chinese to describe凶恶 (vicious) countenances, often in the context of enemies or oppressors revealing their true brutality.
💡 Example Usage
那个恶霸终于露出了狰狞面目，威胁村民交出土地。
The local tyrant finally revealed his ferocious true face, threatening the villagers to hand over their land.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 狰狞面目
- Pinyin: zhēng níng miàn mù
- Literal Translation: ferocious, vicious, face, appearance
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4