灰頭土臉 huī tóu tǔ liǎn

DEFINITIONS

  1. head and face filthy with grime (idiom)
  2. covered in dirt
  3. dejected and depressed

CHARACTERS

灰 huī
HSK 5
ashes; dust; lime, mortar
頭 tóu head; top; chief, first; boss
土 tǔ
HSK 5
soil, earth; items made of earth
臉 liǎn face; cheek; reputation