Japanese word

メンツ

Pronunciation

Romajimentsu

Meaning

  • nounface

Example

彼はメンツを失いました。kare wa me n tsu o ushina i ma shi ta

He lost face.

Illustration for メンツ (face)

More examples

彼は上司の前でメンツを守るため、黙っていました。kare wa jō shi no mae de me n tsu o mamo ru ta me dama tte i ma shi ta

He stayed silent to save face in front of his boss.

Core concept

It refers to the respect and dignity a person has in the eyes of others and tries to preserve.

Common phrases

  • メンツを立てるme n tsu o ta te ru

    save someone's face

  • メンツを守るme n tsu o mamo ru

    save face

  • メンツが潰れるme n tsu ga tsubu re ru

    lose face

  • メンツを保つme n tsu o tamo tsu

    maintain one's dignity

  • メンツを失うme n tsu o ushina u

    lose face

Similar words

面目menboku: A person's honor and reputation in the eyes of others.
体面taimen: A person's outward dignity and social respectability.
顔kao: A person's standing and reputation within a group.

Definition in Japanese

人前で保とうとする体面や名誉。hito mae de tamo tō to su ru tai men ya mei yo

Word origin

メンツ (mentsu) is a Japanese borrowing from Chinese 面子 (miànzi, "face and dignity"), a word for one's public standing.

Usage tips

  • In English, face-saving describes behavior that avoids public embarrassment and protects social standing rather than protecting the physical face.

Other meanings

  • honornoun
  • dignitynoun

Word lists with this word