真面目

zhēnmiànmù

noun #9,271

Meanings

1 true face; true colors
2 real identity

Characters

eye; appearance

Examples

他终于露出了真面目。

Tā zhōngyú lùchū le zhēnmiànmù.

He finally showed his true colors.

我们要看清事情的真面目。

Wǒmen yào kàn qīng shìqing de zhēnmiànmù.

We need to see the true nature of things.

Tips

usage

Often used in the phrase 庐山真面目 (Lúshān zhēnmiànmù), from a Su Shi poem, meaning 'the true face of Mount Lu' — used figuratively for the real truth of a matter.

In Pop Culture

庐山真面目 Lúshānzhēnmiànmù

the true face of Mount Lu

idiom from Su Shi's poem — the real truth hidden in plain sight

Stroke Order

真 zhēn

面 miàn

目 mù