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

HSK 6

他碍于情面，不好意思拒绝对方的请求。

Tā ài yú qíngmiàn, bùhǎoyìsi jùjué duìfāng de qǐngqiú.

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

HSK 7-9

执法不能讲情面，必须一视同仁。

Zhífǎ bùnéng jiǎng qíngmiàn, bìxū yīshì-tóngrén.

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

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