Mianzi (face) 面子

miànzi · from Chinese

What does face (面子) mean in Chinese culture?

面子 (miànzi), face, is social prestige and reputation in the eyes of others, which people work to give, gain and avoid losing.

Face shapes gift-giving, negotiation, criticism and hospitality across East Asia. Chinese distinguishes 面子 (social standing) from 臉 liǎn (moral integrity). English lose face is commonly traced to Chinese 丟臉 diūliǎn.

Examples

給面子 gěi miànzi (give face); 丟臉 diūliǎn (lose face); 愛面子 ài miànzi (concerned with face); Korean 체면 chemyeon; Japanese 面子 mentsu

Kungfucius says: Face: the invisible currency of East Asia, and no ATM accepts it.