# 眉开眼笑

méi kāi yǎn xiào

Show happiness openly in one's face

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Brows open and eyes smile

**Traditional Chinese:** 眉開眼笑

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe a visibly delighted expression.

It refers to facial expression rather than every kind of happiness.

## The image & its use

A welcome message or a small success can show immediately on a person's face. The expression joins relaxed brows and smiling eyes into a picture of open delight. It suits a familiar scene such as receiving a letter, meeting a friend, or seeing a plant bloom. It describes what an observer can see, which makes it useful in narrative. The reason for the smile adds context and prevents the description from feeling like a detached stock expression.

## Examples

看到自己种的花开了，她眉开眼笑。

### Traditional Chinese

看到自己種的花開了，她眉開眼笑。

kàn dào zì jǐ zhǒng de huā kāi le ， tā méi kāi yǎn xiào 。

She beamed when she saw the flowers she had planted bloom.

爷爷收到孩子们的信，立刻眉开眼笑。

### Traditional Chinese

爺爺收到孩子們的信，立刻眉開眼笑。

yé ye shōu dào hái zi men de xìn ， lì kè méi kāi yǎn xiào 。

Grandfather beamed as soon as he received the children's letters.

拼图终于完成，大家都眉开眼笑。

### Traditional Chinese

拼圖終於完成，大家都眉開眼笑。

pīn tú zhōng yú wán chéng ， dà jiā dōu méi kāi yǎn xiào 。

Everyone beamed when the puzzle was finally complete.

他眉开眼笑地介绍新做的模型。

### Traditional Chinese

他眉開眼笑地介紹新做的模型。

tā méi kāi yǎn xiào dì jiè shào xīn zuò de mó xíng 。

He introduced his newly made model with a delighted smile.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1223&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%9C%89%E9%96%8B%E7%9C%BC%E7%AC%91)

## Keep exploring

- [门当户对 mén dāng hù duì Match in family background or social standing ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/men-dang-hu-dui)

- [面面相觑 miàn miàn xiāng qù Look at one another in confusion or dismay ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mian-mian-xiang-qu)

- [明目张胆 míng mù zhāng dǎn Act openly and brazenly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-mu-zhang-dan)

- [冥顽不灵 míng wán bù líng Remain obstinately unreceptive ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-wan-bu-ling)

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