情面

qíngmiàn

noun #23,989

Meanings

1 feelings and face
2 sensitivity to others' feelings
3 personal consideration / sentiment

Characters

feeling / sentiment / affection

face / dignity / aspect

Examples

执法不能讲情面，必须一视同仁。

Zhífǎ bù néng jiǎng qíngmiàn, bìxū yīshìtóngrén.

Law enforcement must not make personal exceptions — everyone must be treated equally.

他碍于情面，不好意思拒绝对方的请求。

Tā ài yú qíngmiàn, bù hǎoyìsi jùjué duìfāng de qǐngqiú.

Constrained by feelings of obligation, he found it hard to refuse the other party's request.

Tips

culture

情面 combines 情 (feelings, sentiment) and 面 (face, dignity). It captures the social obligation not to embarrass or hurt someone who has a relationship with you. Giving face to personal relationships can conflict with impartial rules — a recurring tension in Chinese social life.

Stroke Order

情 qíng

面 miàn