hòu liǎn pí: 厚脸皮 - Thick-skinned, Shameless, Brazen

Keywords: hou lian pi, 厚脸皮, thick-skinned in Chinese, shameless Chinese, brazen, impudent, what does hou lian pi mean, Chinese face culture, mianzi, 脸皮厚

Summary: “厚脸皮 (hòu liǎn pí)” is a common Chinese term that literally translates to “thick-skinned face.” It is used to describe someone who is shameless, brazen, or impudent, often ignoring social norms, criticism, or embarrassment to get what they want. Far from being a compliment for resilience, “hòu liǎn pí” is a strong negative judgment. Understanding this term is essential for grasping the important Chinese cultural concepts of “face” (面子, miànzi) and social propriety.

Pinyin (with tone marks): hòu liǎn pí

Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: Describes someone who is shameless, brazen, and impervious to criticism or embarrassment.

In a Nutshell: Imagine a person whose “face skin” is so thick that insults, criticism, or embarrassing situations simply can't penetrate it. This person acts without a sense of shame, often for personal gain, and doesn't care what others think of their behavior. It's a powerful and negative description, similar to calling someone “shameless” or “brazen” in English, but it's uniquely tied to the Chinese cultural value of maintaining “face” (面子).

厚 (hòu): Thick. This character depicts a a cliff (厂) over the sun (日) with a child (子), originally representing something substantial or generous. In this context, it simply means “thick.”

脸 (liǎn): Face. This refers to the physical face, but more importantly, the abstract concept of one's social standing, dignity, and reputation.

皮 (pí): Skin or leather. The character is a pictogram of a hand skinning an animal.

The characters combine to form the literal meaning “thick-face-skin.” This vivid, literal image perfectly illustrates the metaphorical meaning: someone whose social sensitivity (the “skin” of their “face”) is so thick that they are immune to shame. A common and interchangeable variation is 脸皮厚 (liǎnpí hòu).

The term 厚脸皮 (hòu liǎn pí) is inseparable from the foundational Chinese cultural concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face.” In Chinese culture, “face” is not just about individual pride; it's a measure of one's reputation, social standing, and honor within a collective community. “Losing face” (丢脸, diūliǎn) is a profound social fear, as it can bring shame not just to the individual but also to their family or group.

A person described as 厚脸皮 is someone who flagrantly disregards this entire social system. They don't care about losing their own face, nor do they care about giving face (给面子, gěi miànzi) to others. This behavior is seen as a violation of social harmony and basic propriety.

Comparison to “Thick-skinned”: In Western, particularly American, culture, being “thick-skinned” can be a positive trait. A CEO, a politician, or an artist might be praised for being “thick-skinned” enough to handle harsh criticism and persevere. This implies resilience. 厚脸皮, however, is almost never positive. It implies a moral deficiency and a lack of self-respect. It's not about resilience to achieve a noble goal; it's about shamelessness to achieve a selfish one.

Connotation: Strongly negative and judgmental. It is an insult, though its severity can range from a lighthearted jab between close friends to a serious accusation.

Formality: Highly informal. Used in daily conversation, family arguments, online comments, but not in formal or professional writing.

Grammatical Flexibility: Remember that 厚脸皮 is versatile. It can be a noun (他是个厚脸皮 - He is a shameless person), an adjective (他很厚脸皮 - He is very shameless), or part of a verb phrase (他厚着脸皮… - He shamelessly…). The adjectival form is most commonly expressed as 脸皮厚 (liǎnpí hòu).

不要脸 (bú yào liǎn) - “To not want face.” A much more direct and aggressive insult than 厚脸皮. It's a blunt accusation of being completely shameless.

脸皮薄 (liǎnpí báo) - Antonym. “Thin-skinned.” Describes someone who is easily embarrassed, shy, and overly sensitive to others' opinions.

面子 (miànzi) - The core cultural concept of “face,” social standing, and honor. Someone who is 厚脸皮 is seen as having no regard for 面子.

丢脸 (diūliǎn) - “To lose face.” The embarrassing outcome that a 厚脸皮 person is immune to feeling.

给面子 (gěi miànzi) - “To give face.” The act of showing respect to someone to uphold their honor. A 厚脸皮 person often fails to do this for others.

无耻 (wúchǐ) - A more formal and literary synonym for “shameless.” It carries a strong sense of moral condemnation.

赖皮 (làipí) - To be a deadbeat; to shamelessly go back on one's word or refuse to pay a debt. It's a specific type of 厚脸皮 behavior.