东施效颦

東施效顰
dōngshīxiàopín

to imitate others only to make a fool of oneself; to attempt a crude or awkward imitation

Wiktionary

Homographs

东施效颦 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

Entry Composition

=1 东 Dōng surname Dong
=1 东 dōng
  1. east
  2. host (i.e. sitting on east side of guest)
  3. landlord
=2 施 Shī surname Shi
=2 施 shī
  1. (bound form) to put into effect (regulations etc)
  2. to distribute (alms etc)
  3. to apply (fertilizer etc)
=2 施 sī
  1. kindness; favour
  2. to disperse; to become spread
  3. to grant; to bestow; to give
=2 施 yì
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 移 (yí, “to change”)
  2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to extend to; to reach
  3. alternative form of 移 (yí, “to change”)
  4. to extend to; to reach
=2 施 shǐ
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 侈 (chǐ, “to boast”)
  2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 弛 (“to cast away; to relieve”)
  3. alternative form of 侈 (chǐ, “to boast”)
  4. alternative form of 弛 (“to cast away; to relieve”)
=2 施 yí
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 邪 (“awry”)
  2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) used in 施施 (yíyí, “walking in a crooked way”)
  3. alternative form of 邪 (“awry”)
  4. used in 施施 (yíyí, “walking in a crooked way”)
3 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