青面獠牙
qīng miàn liáo yá
hideous and ferocious-looking (of demons)
Character by character
青qīng
green
green
面miàn
face
face
獠liáo
long
long
牙yá
fangs
fangs
Example
庙里的小鬼个个青面獠牙，孩子们看了都往大人身后躲。
Every one of the little demons in the temple is green-faced and fanged, and the children who see them hide behind the grown-ups.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
The stock picture of a demon in temple statues and paintings; 獠牙 are long tusks that stick out of the mouth. Used of people for a savage, menacing look.
Learn this in Lesson 248 · HSK 9+: 城隍与阎王 (City gods and the king of hell)
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