面如灰土

ashen-faced (idiom)

as / as if / such as

face / side / surface / aspect / top / classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc

variant of 麵|面[mian4]

flour / noodles / (of food) soft (not crunchy) / (slang) (of a person) ineffectual / spineless

Tu (ethnic group) / surname Tu

earth / dust / clay / local / indigenous / crude opium / unsophisticated / one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音[ba1 yin1]

ash / dust / lime / gray / discouraged; dejected

dust / (soil taxonomy) spodosol