Back to all idioms

眉开眼笑(眉開眼笑)

méi kāi yǎn xiàoRelationships & Character

眉开眼笑 (méi kāi yǎn xiào) literally meansbrows open, eyes smileand expressesbe all smiles; radiate happiness”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships & character.

Also searched as: mei kai yan xiao, mei kai yan xiao,眉开眼笑 meaning, 眉开眼笑 in english

Pronunciation: méi kāi yǎn xiào Literal meaning: Brows open, eyes smile

Origin & Usage

This idiom describes brows (眉) opening (开) and eyes (眼) smiling (笑). It depicts the full facial expression of genuine happiness where both brows relax upward and eyes crinkle with joy. The phrase captures authentic emotion visible across the entire face. Modern usage describes obvious happiness, the kind of joy that involves the whole face and cannot be faked.

When to Use

Situation: Receiving the good news, her whole face lit up with happiness.


Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.

Related Chinese Idioms

Similar idioms about relationships & character

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 眉开眼笑 mean in English?

眉开眼笑 (méi kāi yǎn xiào) literally translates toBrows open, eyes smileand is used to expressBe all smiles; radiate happiness”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theRelationships & Character category..

When is 眉开眼笑 used?

Situation: Receiving the good news, her whole face lit up with happiness.

What is the pinyin for 眉开眼笑?

The pinyin pronunciation for 眉开眼笑 isméi kāi yǎn xiào”.