笑不露齒
Chinese
laugh; smile not; no to show; to reveal; to expose; dewtooth trad. (笑不露齒) 笑 不 露 齒 simp. (笑不露齿) 笑 不 露 齿
Pronunciation
Idiom
笑不露齒
- to not show one's teeth when one smiles
Usage notes
This is one of the traditional admonishments for Chinese girls, who are instructed that one of female virtues is to not smile easily and to not show their teeth when they smile. Laughing out loud, or any strong display of emotion, is considered ungraceful and unladylike in traditional Chinese culture.
Often used with 行不露足 (“to not show one's feet when walking”).