脸色
How to Understand
脸色 refers to a person's facial expression or complexion, often reflecting their emotional state or physical condition. It can indicate mood, health, or social reactions, and is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts.
The character 脸 (liǎn) means 'face,' while 色 (sè) means 'color' or 'expression.' Together, they form a term that captures the visual appearance of the face, which can convey a wide range of meanings beyond just physical color.
In daily conversation, 脸色 is often used to describe someone’s reaction to a situation, such as looking pale from shock or showing anger through a red face. It is also used in idiomatic expressions, like 看脸色 (kàn liǎn sè), meaning 'to read someone's expression' or 'to gauge someone's mood.'