Chinese word

丢脸

Pronunciation

Pinyindiū liǎn

Meaning

  • verblose face

Example

别在我面前丢脸。bié zài wǒ miàn qián diū liǎn

Don't lose face in front of me.

Illustration for 丢脸 (lose face)

More examples

那位演员的错误让公司在媒体上丢脸。nà wèi yǎn yuán de cuò wù ràng gōng sī zài méi tǐ shàng diū liǎn

That actor's mistake made the company lose face in the media.

Core concept

A person loses the social face that protects a good impression after a public mistake or difficult situation.

Common phrases

  • 在公众面前丢脸zài gōng zhòng miàn qián diū liǎn

    lose face in public

  • 因失误丢脸yīn shī wù diū liǎn

    lose face because of a mistake

Similar words

丢面子diū miàn zi: Losing social standing or dignity in front of other people.
丢人diū rén: Doing something embarrassing in public and damaging one's reputation.
出丑chū chǒu: Acting awkwardly or foolishly in public and bringing shame on oneself.
丢人现眼diū rén xiàn yǎn: Doing something very embarrassing in public and becoming a spectacle.

Definition in Chinese

在别人面前因为自己的言行、失误或处境而失去面子，感到羞耻或尴尬的动词。zài bié rén miàn qián yīn wèi zì jǐ de yán xíng shī wù huò chǔ jìng ér shī qù miàn zi gǎn dào xiū chǐ huò gān gà de dòng cí

Word origin

丢 (diū, "lose") + 脸 (liǎn, "face") combines a verb of losing with a word for the face as public identity, creating the idea of losing dignity in front of others.

Usage tips

  • As a direct warning or criticism, this word can sound playful among close friends but harsh toward strangers, elders, or people in formal settings.

Other meanings

  • embarrassingadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word