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Chinese/Dictionary entry

似笑非笑

sì xiào fēi xiàodictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
like a smile yet not a smile (idiom)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-64f9689bac4b3838. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

似笑非笑 似笑非笑 [si4 xiao4 fei1 xiao4] /like a smile yet not a smile (idiom)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

  • 似
    shì

    used in 似的[shì de]

    sì

    to seem / to appear / to resemble / similar / -like / pseudo- / (more) than

  • 笑
    xiào

    to laugh / to smile / to laugh at

  • 非
    fēi

    to not be / not / wrong / incorrect / non- / un- / in- / de- / to reproach / to blame / (coll.) to insist on / simply must

    Fēi

    abbr. for 非洲[Fēi zhōu], Africa

  • 笑
    xiào

    to laugh / to smile / to laugh at

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.