bitter smile 的音标为 /ˈbɪtə(r) smaɪl/，中文翻译为“苦笑”，指内心痛苦、无奈或悲伤时勉强做出的笑容，是情绪矛盾的外在表现。这种表情常见于面对挫折、失望或难以言说的困境时，既包含表面的微笑动作，又传递出内在的苦涩感受。

用法说明

语法搭配：通常与介词 with 连用，构成“with a bitter smile”结构，作状语修饰动词（如回答、摇头、转身等）。

情感语境：用于描述人物在经历负面事件（如失业、误解、遗憾）时的复杂心态，体现“笑中带泪”的矛盾状态。

例句

“All right,” Peter replied with a bitter smile, and immediately, they rushed to get their things.
“好吧。”彼得苦笑着回答，他们立刻冲去收拾自己的东西。

After what seemed like hours he came out with a bitter smile.
似乎过了几个小时，他才苦笑着出来。

You know every time I look for a job, they always ask me which college I graduated from. I answered with a bitter smile.
你知道每次我找工作，他们总会问我毕业于哪所大学，我只能苦笑着回答。

“She'd have made sure you lost your job,” he added with a bitter smile, surprising Teacher Fei with his humor.
“她本来还想让你丢了工作呢，”他苦笑着补充道，他的幽默让范老师有些意外。

He paused and gazed upon that animated scene with folded arms, and a bitter smile upon his dark features.
他停下脚步，双臂抱胸凝视着喧闹的场景，黝黑的脸上浮现出一丝苦笑。

Here he shook his head and forced a bitter smile.
他摇了摇头，无奈地苦笑了一下。

The audience burst into laughter, except for the actor, who could do nothing but squeeze out a bitter smile.
观众席爆发出一阵哄笑，只有那个演员，除了挤出一丝苦笑外别无他法。

“Never did anything?” I replied, with a bitter smile.
“没做过什么对不起我的事？”我苦笑着反驳道。

My bitter smile, tears had skated completely.
我苦涩地笑着，泪水已经流干。

But he had spoiled his daughter himself, and Mrs. Lin would take the girl's side no matter what the case might be. He smiled a helpless bitter smile.
但女儿是他自己宠坏的，林大娘又无论如何都偏袒女儿，林先生只能无奈地苦笑。

短语搭配

force a bitter smile ：强作苦笑（强调动作的勉强性）

reply with a bitter smile ：苦笑着回答（常见于对话场景）

a helpless bitter smile ：无奈的苦笑（突出内心的无力感）

a bitter smile on one's face ：脸上带着苦笑（描述面部表情）

“苦笑”这一表情在中英文语境中具有相似的情感内核，都是内心与外在表情不一致的体现。它比单纯的哭泣更含蓄，比普通的微笑更沉重，恰如生活中那些“哭不出来，笑不出来”的时刻。你是否也曾在某个瞬间，用这样的表情掩饰过自己的真实心情？