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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

to lose face

Chinese translation: 丢脸

10:07 Sep 11, 2009
English to Chinese translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Idiomatic Expressions
English term or phrase: to lose face
Greetings,

According to this article there is a Chinese expression “tu lien” meaning “to lose face”. However, as this is Wade-Giles romanization i.e. an old-fashioned system, I can't decipher it. Please write in Chinese characters, either simplified or complex.

I quote:

face (n.)
c.1290, from O.Fr. face, from V.L. *facia, from L. facies "appearance, form, figure," and secondarily "visage, countenance;" probably related to facere "to make" (see factitious). Replaced O.E. andwlita. To face (v.) "confront" is first recorded 1465. To lose face (or save face), 1876, is said to be from Chinese tu lien; to face the music is theatrical. Face-lift (n.) first recorded 1934, from face-lifting (1922).

All the best, and many thanks,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:06
Chinese translation:丢脸
Explanation:
"diu lian" in modern pinyin
Selected response from:

Daisy Zhu
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:06
Grading comment
many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1丢脸
Daisy Zhu
5丟臉
Gloria (Shufen) Huang (X)
4 +1丢面
Tommaso Facchin
5没面子
celinefang


  

Answers


41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
丢脸


Explanation:
"diu lian" in modern pinyin

Daisy Zhu
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:06
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
many thanks excellent

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Dr JM Chen, PhD
2 days 10 hrs
  -> Thank you!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

49 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
丟臉


Explanation:
Those are in traditional Chinese.

You can also say "沒有面子". It means the same thing.

Gloria (Shufen) Huang (X)
Taiwan
Local time: 12:06
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
丢面


Explanation:
丢面 is ok, diu mian

Tommaso Facchin
Italy
Local time: 06:06
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Avi Kerim: I think that this is the closest term
13 hrs
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
没面子


Explanation:
"mei mian zi"same as丢脸

celinefang
Local time: 05:06
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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