Chinese–EnglishWith examples

面子

miàn zi · mian zi

Traditional 麵子

HSK 5Old HSK 6Concept guide: what 面子 means

Meaning

CC-CEDICT

miàn zi 面子

  1. outer surface; the outside of sth
  2. social prestige; face

miàn zi 麵子

  1. (medicinal) powder
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

Saving face

  1. Dengdeng

    昨天(zuótiān)我(wǒ)在(zài)朋友(péngyou)面前(miànqián)说错(shuōcuò)了(le)一个(yīgè)字(zì)。

    Yesterday I said a word wrong in front of friends.

  2. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)很(hěn)在意(zàiyì)面子(miànzi)吗(ma)？

    Do you care a lot about face?

  3. Dengdeng

    有点(yǒudiǎn)，我(wǒ)当时(dāngshí)脸(liǎn)都(dōu)红(hóng)了(le)。

    A bit. My face even turned red then.

  4. Liangliang

    没关系(méiguānxi)，我(wǒ)也(yě)常常(chángcháng)说错(shuōcuò)，我(wǒ)的(de)面子(miànzi)早就(zǎojiù)丢光(diūguāng)了(le)。

    Never mind. I often say things wrong. My face is long gone.

  5. Dengdeng

    那(nà)我们(wǒmen)今天(jīntiān)一起(yīqǐ)去(qù)滑冰(huábīng)，不要(bùyào)面子(miànzi)了(le)！

    Then let us go ice skating together today and forget about face!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)为(wèi)了(le)面(miàn)子(zi)不(bù)肯(kěn)承(chéng)认(rèn)错(cuò)误(wù)。

He refuses to admit his mistake for the sake of his pride.

02

桌(zhuō)子(zi)的(de)面(miàn)子(zi)擦(cā)得(de)很(hěn)干(gān)净(jìng)。

The tabletop has been wiped very clean.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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