哭kū笑xiào不bù得dé

Literal: crying or laughing, neither possible
Figurative: Not knowing whether to laugh or cry at something both absurd and exasperating; usually said of what someone else did, more resigned than angry.

Where does 哭笑不得 come from?

It does not come from a particular story; it is a colloquial expression that explains itself. 哭 means "to cry," 笑 "to laugh," and 不得 "cannot": the situation is so absurd it makes you laugh and so annoying it makes you want to cry, and you cannot settle on either. It is usually applied to what someone else does or says, to a misunderstanding, or to a ridiculous bit of red tape, and its tone is resignation rather than real anger. It is very common in phrases such as 让人哭笑不得.

How is 哭笑不得 used? Two examples

老lǎo公gōng说shuō要yào给gěi我wǒ惊jīng喜xǐ，结jié果guǒ把bǎ我wǒ的de生shēng日rì记jì成chéng了le下xià个ge月yuè，我wǒ真zhēn是shì哭kū笑xiào不bù得dé。
My husband said he had a surprise planned, and it turned out he thought my birthday was next month; I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
我wǒ跑pǎo了le三sān个ge部bù门mén开kāi证zhèng明míng，最zuì后hòu却què被bèi告gào知zhī根gēn本běn不bù用yòng，真zhēn让ràng人rén哭kū笑xiào不bù得dé。
I went to three different offices for a certificate, only to be told I didn't need one at all. You have to laugh, or you'd cry.

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