死要面子

sǐyàomiànzi

idiom

Meanings

1 to be obsessed with saving face
2 to value one's image above all else
3 to consider loss of face unthinkable

Characters

death / extremely

Examples

他死要面子，明明缺钱也不肯借。

Tā sǐyàomiànzi, míngmíng quē qián yě bù kěn jiè.

He's obsessed with saving face — even though he's clearly short on money, he refuses to borrow any.

死要面子活受罪，何必呢？

Sǐyàomiànzi huó shòuzuì, hébì ne?

You suffer in life just to save face — what's the point?

Tips

usage

Often paired with 活受罪 (huó shòuzuì, 'suffering while alive') in the saying 死要面子活受罪 — 'killing yourself for face means suffering through life.' This longer form is more common than the bare phrase.

culture

面子 (face / social image) is a real currency in Chinese social life, so this idiom carries a sting: it accuses someone of prioritizing image over practical wellbeing or honesty.

Stroke Order

死 sǐ

要 yào

面 miàn

子 zǐ