Face~~ how's chinese face is different ?

“We have to choose the best location, hire a French designer..........…a British butler wearing a wig stands within the building, and looks like a gentleman. When proprietors come, he would say “May I help you, Sir?” to them, no matter how busy he is! Speaking authentic English with pure London accent will give you much 面子(miànzi).”

"一定得选最好的黄金地段，雇法国设计师，建就得建最高档次的公寓，电梯直接入户，户型最小也得四百平米。什么宽带呀，光缆呀，卫星呀能给他接的全给他接上。楼上边有花园(儿)，楼里边有游泳池楼子里站一个英国管家，戴假发，特绅士的那种。业主一进门(儿)，甭管有事(儿)没事(儿)都得跟人家说：may I help you,sir? (我能为您做点什么吗?) 一口地道的英国伦敦腔(儿)， 倍(儿)有面子。"

These classic lines of a famous movie Super Star《大腕》 in Chinese. They are funny, and also convey some psychological aspects of Chinese people, especially “面子(miànzi)”. For saving 面子(miànzi), some Chinese people may make a fool of themselves, lie to others, or even hurt others. So what does 面子(miànzi) really mean in Chinese culture?


Originally, 面子(miànzi) means the surface of some physical objects。

For example,we can say
zhuō miàn　
桌　 面 , the surface of desk 桌means desk.

But with the development of psychological linguistics, 面子(miànzi) is endowed with more profound cultural meanings.

you may have heard some Chinese say “你太给面子了” on business occasions or some other ceremonies. Here, 面子(miànzi) means face literally. It does not refer to our body part, but a kind of honor.

So people always try their best to save their 面子(miànzi). In daily life, phrases like

ài    miàn   zi 　        

爱　面　子　  love face, be keen on having face ,looking good

yào   miàn   zi 　 

要　 面　子　be concerned about face-saving

gěi miàn zi 　

给　 面　子　give one's face, because of someone ,you would do something ,so you are giving this                                   someone's face

méi miàn 　zi        

没　 面　子　 losing one's face           make them feel embarrsed

shāng miàn zi 　
伤　 面　子　 hurt one's face      similar with the former one

sǐ   yào   miàn zi   huó shòu   zuì　

死 要　 面　子 活　 受　罪　 you love face so much that you would do a lot of thing that you could not be able to handle them and you suffer from them         this is one of funny chinese saying~

But why do Chinese people love their “面子(miànzi)” so much? Historically speaking, it is closely related with Confucianism. China is greatly influenced by this philosophical thinking for thousands of years. Its core is that harmony matters most. So we would not embarrass others in public by any way. Even when someone tells lies, we would not show it up to his face. This is a polite way to show our respect to other people. Gradually, we develop a habit of saving our own face and others’.


In addition, people love their 面子(miànzi) because of some psychological factors. First of all, some people have power and money. They enjoy a good reputation or a high status in some fields of society. To maintain their public image, they have to love their 面子(miànzi). For themselves, they will be very cautious about their words and deeds. When others speak highly of them, their vanity is greatly satisfied. Second, some people love their 面子(miànzi) because they feel self-abased. Out of many social and personal reasons, they are inferior to other people in job, family, study, love, etc. They long for these things at the bottom of their heart, but they cannot get them now. So they may do some things to make themselves feel proud. This mental activity results in their loving 面子(miànzi). For example, one’s family is not perfect. He often quarrel with his wife, and his kid is not doing good at school. Out of the aforementioned reasons, he won’t let others know these potentially embarrassing things. So he always says to other people that his wife is very beautiful and kind, his kid behaves very well at school, and his whole family is very harmonious to cover the truth. This is a very typical case in saving face. Last, some people love their 面子(miànzi) because they do not have proper judgment. Learning some kids in one’s son’s class going abroad, he wants his son to go abroad too. In his eyes, to do the most popular things at present is a good way to save/boost his face.


There is nothing good or bad in the issue of 面子(miànzi), as long as you don’t do harm to others’ interests. It is just a reflection of Chinese culture on one aspect. Teachers won’t blame his or her students directly for saving their face; parents let their kids go to well-known universities like other kids do for gaining 面子(miànzi) for them; stars and bosses donate for charities to be keen on face-saving…Examples like this are too numerous to mention.


Do you have a basic knowledge of 面子(miànzi) in Chinese culture? As an old saying goes “men rest on their face just as trees rest on their bark”. 面子(miànzi) is vital to Chinese people. I am sure you must have done something in your life to save your own 面子(miànzi) or others’. Please feel free to share them with us.


Vocabulary:


1. 爱面子(àimiànzi) be concerned about face-saving

Zhāng xiānsheng shì gè hěn ài miànzi de rén.

张 先生 是 个 很 爱 面子 的 人。


Mr. Zhang is very concerned about his face.


2. 要面子(yàomiànzi) be keen on face-saving


Yìxiē zhōngguórén hěn yàomiànzi.

一些 中国人 很 要面子。


Some Chinese people are keen on face-saving.


3. 给面子(gěimiànzi) save one’s face


Tā tài gěi wǒ miànzi le.

他 太 给 我 面子 了。


He saves my face.


4. 伤面子(shāngmiànzi) hurt one’s face


Tā shuō de huà shǐ wǒ hěn shāngmiànzi.

他 说 的 话 使 我 很 伤面子。


What he said hurt my face very much.


5. 没面子(méimiànzi) lose one’s face


Lǎobǎn shuō de huà ràng tā juéde méi miànzi.

老板 说 的 话 让 她 觉得 没 面子。


What the boss said made her feel sort of losing face.