面子 Face — HSK 4 Reading

在zài中国Zhōngguó，面子miànzi是shì一yí个ge非常fēicháng重要zhòngyào的de词cí。

In China, 'face' is an extremely important word.

面子miànzi不是bú shì你nǐ的de脸liǎn，而是érshì别人biéren对duì你nǐ的de看法kànfǎ。

Face is not your actual face, but how other people see you.

朋友péngyou一起yìqǐ吃饭chīfàn的de时候shíhou，大家dàjiā常常chángcháng抢qiǎng着zhe付fù钱qián，谁shéi付fù了le钱qián，谁shéi就jiù有yǒu面子miànzi。

When friends eat out together, everyone often fights to pay the bill — whoever pays gains face.

如果rúguǒ你nǐ在zài很多hěn duō人rén面前miànqián批评pīpíng一yí个ge人rén，他tā会huì觉得juéde自己zìjǐ丢diū了le面子miànzi，可能kěnéng再zài也yě不bù想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ做zuò朋友péngyou了le。

If you criticize someone in front of many people, he will feel he has lost face and may never want to be your friend again.

所以suǒyǐ中国人Zhōngguórén提tí意见yìjiàn的de时候shíhou，喜欢xǐhuan说shuō得de客气kèqi一点儿yìdiǎnr，先xiān说shuō优点yōudiǎn，再zài说shuō问题wèntí。

So when Chinese people give feedback, they like to put it politely — strengths first, problems second.

有人yǒurén觉得juéde太tài讲jiǎng面子miànzi很hěn累lèi，请客qǐngkè、送sòng礼物lǐwù都dōu要yào花huā很多hěn duō钱qián。

Some people find caring too much about face exhausting — treating guests and giving gifts all cost a lot of money.

我wǒ觉得juéde，面子miànzi就jiù像xiàng衣服yīfu一样yíyàng：穿chuān得de合适héshì让ràng人rén舒服shūfu，穿chuān得de太tài多duō就jiù会huì热rè得de受不了shòu bu liǎo。

I think face is like clothing: worn right, it makes people comfortable; worn in too many layers, you get unbearably hot.

🔊 Audio uses your device's Chinese voice for now — teacher recordings are coming. Tap any word to see its meaning.

Key words 生词

面子miànziface; social standing

抢qiǎngto fight over; to grab

批评pīpíngto criticize

意见yìjiànopinion; suggestion

优点yōudiǎnstrong point; merit

受不了shòu bu liǎocannot bear

谁……，谁就……

A question word used twice means "whoever / whichever": 谁付了钱，谁就有面子。

谁先到，谁就先点菜。— Whoever arrives first orders first.

V + 得 + adjective

得 after a verb introduces how the action is done or to what degree: 说得客气一点儿；热得受不了。

他汉语说得非常好。— He speaks Chinese very well.

1. According to the text, what is 'face'?

2. When friends eat out together, who gains face?

3. How do Chinese people prefer to give feedback?