The word "啼笑皆非" is formed by sequentially combining four characters: "啼" meaning to cry, "笑" meaning to laugh, "皆" meaning both or all, and "非" meaning not or wrong. This structure directly juxtaposes the opposite actions of crying and laughing, includes both through "皆", and negates them with "非", thereby creating a literal sense that neither crying nor laughing is fitting, which conveys a state of awkward perplexity.