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Daily Chinese Expressions (Beginner)
Wouldn’t You Like to Have “面子 (Miànzi)?”
Learn Chinese for Free – “面子 (Miànzi)”
Jack just recently arrived in China. One day, he wandered into a local shop with his colleague Li Ming. He was attracted by a beautiful piece of china in particular, but it was a little expensive. Li Ming said to the owner, "老板, 我来你这里很多次了, 给个面子, 便宜点儿吧. (Lăobăn, wŏ lái nĭ zhèlĭ hĕn duō cì le, gĕi ge miànzi, piányi diănr ba.)" Jack responded a bit confused, "Wait a second, what do you mean by ‘面子 (Miànzi)?’ I don't want ‘面子 (Miànzi),’ buddy. I just want to buy a piece of china." Both Li Ming and the shop owner burst into laughter.
Do you understand what was so funny?
Actually, Jack mixed up the two meanings of the Chinese word "面子 (mìanzi)."
In Mandarin, "面子 (mìanzi)" firstly refers to the surface, or outside of an object.
Example:
Zhè chuáng bèizi de miànzi zhēn hăo kàn.
这 床 被子 的 面子 真 好 看。
The surface of this quilt is beautiful.
这 床 被子 的 面子 真 好 看。
The surface of this quilt is beautiful.
Secondly, "面子 (mìanzi)" is extended as the reputation, or face of someone, as well as feelings or personal favor between people. People who care about their reputation can be described as "爱面子 (ài miànzi)," or "要面子 (yào miànzi)." If someone loses face or reputation, they can be described as "丢了面子 (diū le miànzi)," or “很没面子 (hĕn méi miànzi).” If you need someone to do you a favor, you can say "给我个面子 (gĕi wŏ ge miànzi)" to express do me a favor, or "看在我的面子上 (kàn zài wŏ de miànzi shàng),” meaning for my sake. In the dialogue above, Li Ming was acquainted with the shop owner so he asked the shop owner to give Jason a discount for his sake.
Example One:
Johnson zài hĕn duō rén miànqián hé jīnglĭ díngzuĭ, ràng jīnglĭ hĕn méi miànzi.
Johnson 在 很 多 人 面前 和 经理 顶嘴， 让 经理 很 没 面子。
Johnson disgraced the manager by arguing with him in front of everyone.
Johnson 在 很 多 人 面前 和 经理 顶嘴， 让 经理 很 没 面子。
Johnson disgraced the manager by arguing with him in front of everyone.
Example Two:
Mă Yīngjiŭ chūxí Selina de hūnlĭ, zhè ràng tā hĕn yŏu miànzi.
马 英九 出席 Selina 的 婚礼，这 让 她 很 有 面子。
Selena gained a ton of respect after Ma Yingjiu attended her wedding ceremony.
马 英九 出席 Selina 的 婚礼，这 让 她 很 有 面子。
Selena gained a ton of respect after Ma Yingjiu attended her wedding ceremony.
Example Three:
Mike's wife just gave birth to a new baby who’s now one-month old. Mike wants to throw a party to celebrate. One day, he says to his friends:
Wŏ érzi kuài mănyuè le, dàjiā gĕi ge miànzi, míngtiān lái wŏ jiā wán ba.
Mike: 我 儿子 快 满月 了，大家 给 个 面子， 明天 来 我 家 玩 吧。
Mike: 我 儿子 快 满月 了，大家 给 个 面子， 明天 来 我 家 玩 吧。
My son is turning one-month old! Please accept my invitation and come over to celebrate.
Hăo a! Gōngxĭ! Gōngxĭ!
Colleagues: 好啊！恭喜！ 恭喜！
Wonderful! Congratulations!
Colleagues: 好啊！恭喜！ 恭喜！
Wonderful! Congratulations!
Discussion
I have learned Survival Chinese courses here for a week and noticed that in Lesson 4 of the Survival Chinese course there is the measure word "个." The usage of this is not very clear to me? Could you explain it? Thanks!
- Tina
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