Korean word

면목

Pronunciation

Romanizationmyeonmok

Meaning

  • nounhonor

Example

그는 거짓말로 면목을 잃었다.keu neun keo jin mal lo myeon mo geul i reot tta

He lost face because he lied.

Illustration for 면목 (honor)

More examples

부모님 앞에서 면목을 지키고 싶었다.pu mo nim a pe seo myeon mo geul chi ki go si peot tta

I wanted to save face in front of my parents.

Core concept

The social standing that lets someone hold their head up before other people.

Common phrases

  • 면목이 서다myeon mo gi seo da

    save face

  • 면목을 지키다myeon mo geul chi ki da

    preserve one's honor

Similar words

체면chemyeon: The public image and dignity a person tries to protect in front of other people.
자존심chajonsim: A sense of pride in one's own worth and dignity.
수치suchi: A painful feeling of shame caused by disgrace or humiliation.

Definition in Korean

다른 사람 앞에서 지켜야 할 체면이나 명예를 가리키는 말로, 그것을 잃거나 회복하는 상황에서 쓰인다.ta reun sa ram a pe seo chi kyeo ya hal che myeo ni na myeong ye reul ka ri ki neun mal lo keu geo seul il keo na hoe bo ka neun sang hwang e seo sseu in da

Word origin

The Sino-Korean word 면목 (myeonmok, "social standing") combines 면 (myeon, "face") and 목 (mok, "eye"), and its original image of a person's outward appearance came to mean honor and reputation.

Usage tips

  • This word is useful when an action changes how respectable someone feels in public, not just when someone loses personal pride.

Other meanings

  • facenoun

Opposites

  • 불명예pulmyeongyedishonornoun

Related words

Word lists with this word