Chinese word

当面

Pronunciation

Pinyindāng miàn

Meaning

  • adverbface to face

Example

他当面批评了我。tā dāng miàn pī píng le wǒ

He criticized me face to face.

Illustration for 当面 (face to face)

More examples

她要求他当面道歉。tā yāo qiú tā dāng miàn dào qiàn

She demanded that he apologize face to face.

Core concept

A person stands at the receiving end of speech or action, with no intermediary between the two sides.

Common phrases

  • 当面批评dāng miàn pī píng

    criticize face to face

  • 当面道歉dāng miàn dào qiàn

    apologize face to face

  • 当面承认dāng miàn chéng rèn

    admit face to face

Similar words

当着dāng zhe: In someone's presence, with the person able to see or hear the action.
面对面miàn duì miàn: With two people facing one another directly while they interact.
直接zhí jiē: Directly, without an intermediary or any roundabout approach.
当众dāng zhòng: In full view of a group, with many people watching or listening.

Definition in Chinese

当面 表示在某人面前直接进行言语或行为。dāng miàn biǎo shì zài mǒu rén miàn qián zhí jiē jìn xíng yán yǔ huò xíng wéi

Word origin

当面 (dāngmiàn, "in a person's presence") is formed from 当 (dāng, "at") and 面 (miàn, "face"), linking an action to the other person's visible face.

Usage tips

  • This adverb can describe a one-sided act as well as an exchange, so a remark aimed at someone who is present fits even when that person does not reply.

Other meanings

  • in front ofadverb
  • in the presence ofadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word