Chinese word

翻脸

Pronunciation

Pinyinfān liǎn

Meaning

  • verbfall out

Example

我们因为那件事突然翻脸了。wǒ men yīn wèi nà jiàn shì tū rán fān liǎn le

We suddenly fell out over that matter.

Illustration for 翻脸 (fall out)

More examples

她很记仇，一点小事就会翻脸。tā hěn jì chóu yì diǎn xiǎo shì jiù huì fān liǎn

She holds grudges and will fall out over the slightest thing.

Core concept

A relationship snapping from normal warmth into direct conflict.

Common phrases

  • 和他翻脸hé tā fān liǎn

    fall out with him

  • 一下子翻脸yí xià zi fān liǎn

    suddenly fall out

  • 对她翻脸duì tā fān liǎn

    fall out with her

Similar words

生气shēng qì: Becoming angry and letting that feeling show in the face or behavior.
吵架chǎo jià: Having a quarrel with someone through angry or heated words.
绝交jué jiāo: Cutting off a relationship completely and no longer keeping in contact.

Definition in Chinese

（两人或多人之间）从原本的和睦或正常交往突然转为互相反感、发生口角或断交的行为或状态。liǎng rén huò duō rén zhī jiān cóng yuán běn de hé mù huò zhèng cháng jiāo wǎng tū rán zhuǎn wéi hù xiāng fán gǎn fā shēng kóu jiǎo huò duàn jiāo de xíng wéi huò zhuàng tài

Word origin

The compound 翻 (fān, "turn over") and 脸 (liǎn, "face") suggests a face that has suddenly changed direction, a vivid image for a sharp change in personal relations.

Usage tips

  • It usually describes a change between people, not one person simply feeling annoyed, so it fits conflicts that affect the relationship.

Opposites

Word lists with this word