效顰

效颦
xiàopín
  1. (figurative) to imitate others only to make a fool of oneself; to attempt a crude or awkward imitation
  2. to imitate others only to make a fool of oneself; to attempt a crude or awkward imitation

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

=1 效 xiào variant of 傚 xiào
=1 效 xiào to imitate (variant of 效 xiào)
=1 效 xiào variant of 效 xiào
=1 效 xiào
  1. effect
  2. efficacy
  3. to imitate
2 顰 pín
  1. to scowl
  2. to knit the brows

Containing this entry

東施效顰 Dōng Shīxiàopín
  1. lit. Dong Shi imitates Xi Shi's frown (idiom)
  2. fig. to mimick sb's idiosyncrasies but make a fool of oneself
東施效顰 dōngshīxiàopín