灰头土面 covered in dust
Explanation
形容人非常狼狈，满脸尘土的样子。也比喻遭遇失败或挫折，心情沮丧。
Describes someone who is very embarrassed and has a face full of dust. It is also used to describe failures or setbacks and depression.
Origin Story
从前，有一个名叫小明的孩子，他非常顽皮。有一天，他偷偷溜出去玩耍，结果在田野里摔了个大跟头，弄得灰头土面，衣服也破了。他哭着跑回家，妈妈看到他这副模样，既生气又心疼，一边帮他清洗，一边教育他要听话。从此以后，小明再也不敢随便乱跑了。
Once upon a time, there was a very naughty child named Xiaoming. One day, he sneaked out to play, and as a result, he fell down in the field and got covered in dust, and his clothes were also torn. He ran home crying, and his mother, seeing his appearance, was both angry and distressed. She helped him clean himself up and taught him to be obedient. From that day on, Xiaoming never dared to run around carelessly again.
Usage
常用作宾语、定语、状语，形容人非常狼狈，或心情沮丧。
Often used as an object, attribute, or adverbial to describe someone who is very embarrassed or depressed.
Examples
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他这次考试失败了，灰头土面地回到了家。
tā zhè cì kǎoshì shībài le, huī tóu tǔ miàn de huí dào le jiā。
He failed the exam this time and returned home with his head and face covered in dust.
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经过几天的连续奋战，他们终于完成了任务，虽然灰头土面，但个个都喜笑颜开。
jīngguò jǐ tiān de liánxù fènzhàn, tāmen zhōngyú wánchéng le rènwù, suīrán huī tóu tǔ miàn, dàn gège dōu xǐxiào yánkāi。
After several days of continuous fighting, they finally completed the task. Although they were covered in dust, everyone was beaming with joy.
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他灰头土面地回来了，我知道他一定失败了。
tā huī tóu tǔ miàn de huílai le, wǒ zhīdào tā yīdìng shībài le。
He came back covered in dust, I know he must have failed.