méi miànzi: 没面子 - To Lose Face, To be Embarrassed

Keywords: méi miànzi, 没面子, lose face Chinese, what is mianzi, Chinese face culture, social standing in China, Chinese embarrassment, save face, give face, diulian, 不好意思 vs 没面子

Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese cultural concept of 没面子 (méi miànzi), which means “to lose face.” This term goes beyond simple embarrassment; it signifies a public loss of social standing, reputation, and dignity within a group. Understanding 没面子 is essential for navigating social and professional situations in China, as it is deeply connected to respect, honor, and interpersonal relationships.

Pinyin (with tone marks): méi miànzi

Part of Speech: Verb Phrase

HSK Level: N/A (Component parts are HSK 1 没 and HSK 5 面子)

Concise Definition: To lose face; to be embarrassed or humiliated, resulting in a loss of social prestige.

In a Nutshell: 没面子 (méi miànzi) describes the feeling and a state of being when your reputation or social standing is damaged in front of others. It’s not just about feeling personally awkward; it’s about a public loss of respect and credibility. This can happen if you are publicly criticized, if you fail to fulfill a social obligation, or if someone you are responsible for (like your child or employee) behaves poorly.

没 (méi): A negative particle meaning “to not have” or “there isn't.” It's the same “méi” used in “没有 (méiyǒu).”

The combination 没面子 (méi miànzi) literally means “to not have face,” a direct and powerful way to describe the loss of one's social standing.

“Face” as Social Currency: In Chinese culture, `面子 (miànzi)` is like a form of social currency. You can gain it, give it, save it, and lose it. Having `面子` means you are respected and have influence, which makes social interactions smoother. To cause someone to have 没面子 is a serious social transgression, as it damages their reputation and ability to operate effectively within their social network (关系, guānxi).

Western “Embarrassment” vs. Chinese “Losing Face”: While related, they are not the same. Western embarrassment is often a private, internal feeling. You can feel embarrassed even when you're alone. 没面子 is inherently public and relational. It requires an “audience” — your status is diminished *in their eyes*. For example, tripping on the sidewalk might be embarrassing (不好意思, bù hǎoyìsi), but having your boss yell at you in front of your colleagues for a mistake makes you 没面子. The first is a minor slip-up; the second damages your professional authority and credibility.

Collectivism and Harmony: The concept is tied to China's collectivistic culture, where maintaining group harmony is paramount. Publicly shaming someone causes them to have 没面子, which disrupts this harmony. Therefore, people often go to great lengths to help others “save face” (保住面子, bǎozhù miànzi) to keep relationships stable.

In Conversation: This is a very common term used in daily life. People might say “我今天好没面子” (I really lost face today) after a humiliating experience. They might also warn a friend, “别那么做，很没面子” (Don't do that, it's very embarrassing/face-losing).

In Business: “Face” is critical in business negotiations. Publicly contradicting a superior or a client, or failing to deliver on a promise, would cause immense loss of face for everyone involved. Conversely, praising a business partner in front of their team “gives them face” (给面子, gěi miànzi) and strengthens the relationship.

On Social Media: A netizen might comment on a celebrity scandal by saying the celebrity's actions made their family 没面子. It's used to describe any public action that brings shame or disgrace to an individual or their associated group.

It Must Be Social/Public: You cannot have 没面子 when you are alone. If you make a mistake while cooking by yourself, you might feel frustrated, but you don't lose face. If you make the same mistake while cooking for important guests, you have 没面子. The concept is defined by the presence of others.

`面子 (miànzi)` - The foundational concept of “face,” meaning social standing, prestige, and honor.

`丢脸 (diūliǎn)` - A very close synonym, also meaning “to lose face.” `丢脸` (to throw away face) can sometimes imply the loss of face was due to one's own disgraceful actions, and can feel slightly stronger or more severe than 没面子.

`给面子 (gěi miànzi)` - The opposite action: “to give face.” To show respect or deference to someone, thereby enhancing their social standing.

`有面子 (yǒu miànzi)` - The opposite state: “to have face.” To possess a good reputation and high social standing.

`爱面子 (ài miànzi)` - (Verb phrase/Adjective) To be very concerned with one's reputation; to be sensitive about losing face.

`保住面子 (bǎozhù miànzi)` - “To save face.” To successfully protect one's own or someone else's reputation from being damaged.

`不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi)` - A much milder term for feeling shy, apologetic, or slightly embarrassed over a minor issue.

`关系 (guānxi)` - The network of social connections and relationships that is built and maintained through the exchange of favors and face.

`人情 (rénqíng)` - The social obligation or human favor that is owed between people within their `关系`. Giving and saving face is a key part of managing `人情`.