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face

liǎn
11 strokes · 月 (flesh radical) + 佥 (sound) — the flesh you show the world · HSK 2

Where 脸 comes from

脸 (traditional 臉) is flesh 月 plus the sound 佥. Interestingly it's a latecomer — classical Chinese said 面 for face; 脸 originally meant just the cheeks, then took over the whole face in the spoken language.

脸 in Chinese culture

脸 is anatomy AND sociology: 洗脸 (wash your face) starts the day, but 面子/脸面 (face — honor, dignity) runs Chinese social life. 丢脸 (lose face) is disgrace; 给面子 (give face) is showing respect by cooperating. 不要脸! ('doesn't want face!') is among the harshest insults — to be beyond shame. The physical face washes clean every morning; the social one takes a lifetime to keep.

Example

洗脸 xǐliǎn — to wash one's face

他的脸红了。
Tā de liǎn hóng le.
His face turned red (he blushed).

How to remember it

The flesh 月 you present to the world — your FACE, in both senses.

丢脸 (lose face) entered English FROM Chinese — one of the few Chinese idioms to colonize English business-speak.

Same sound, different tones

2nd lián
even / to connect
3rd liǎn
face
4th liàn
to practice

Words unlocked by 脸

洗脸 xǐliǎn
wash one's face
脸红 liǎnhóng
to blush
丢脸 diūliǎn
to lose face
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