kū哭cryxiào笑laughbù不notdé得can
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry; to be in an awkward situation.
Literal meaning
cry (哭) — laugh (笑) — not (不) — can (得)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a situation that is both funny and frustrating.
Examples
Tā他de的xíng行wéi为ràng让wǒ我kū哭xiào笑bù不dé得。
His behavior made me not know whether to laugh or cry.
Tīng听dào到zhè这ge个xiāo消xi息，wǒ我zhēn真shi是kū哭xiào笑bù不dé得。
Hearing this news, I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Usage & nuances
Describes a situation that is both amusing and frustrating.
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