also: なきつら
noun
tearful face; crying face
Refers to a face that is wet with tears or looks like one has been crying. Often used in the proverb 泣きっ面に蜂 (adding insult to injury).
泣きっ面を隠すようにうつむいた。
She hung her head as if to hide her tearful face.
泣きっ面に蜂とは、まさにこのことだ。
This is exactly a case of adding insult to injury (literally, a bee on a crying face).
泣き顔 is a more common word for 'crying face' and is used in everyday situations. 泣きっ面 is somewhat more emphatic or literary, and is strongly associated with the proverb.
Compound of 泣き (crying) and 面 (face). The geminate form 泣きっ面 is a common euphonic change.