The terms 脸and 面, both literally mean physical face and also "name" or "reputation", representing the behavior expected from a person according to his social class. Improper behavior will cause a loss of respect and prestige, which is called in Chinese "losing face" 丢失面孔 . People are expected to behave according to the rules, not to bring ridicule or shame upon their families.
The expression "to lose face" originates in the still prevalent Chinese approach, according to which the face reflects an individual's character. Many books have been written on this subject. Certain behaviors reveal the need for "saving face". For example, a Chinese person will say "maybe" or will agree to do something that he does not really intend to do, in order to avoid rejecting a request or offer, and thus to prevent the other person from "losing face". A person may "receive face" or "lose face", according to the rules of courtesy, which is why it is important to act according to the accepted customs. For example, one should always bring a present when invited somewhere, and a present given should always be accepted (bribes not included).
The term “face” is not uniquely Chinese. It resembles in sense the Spanish or Arabian term "honor", which can lead to over sensitivity to criticism. Being afraid to lose face, Chinese people are often afraid to make a mistake, including those that are understandable and forgivable, such as a child's fear of making a mistake in recitation.
Gaining face is achieved by receiving compliments, displaying generosity by buying expensive presents for weddings, holding magnificent long funerals with hired mourners, crowds of monks, cars, rickshaws, servants, etc. The social desire to maintain a perfect reputation hinders many a natural human response.
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声誉胜于财富
Good name is better than wealth
In the Bible it is written:
טוב שם משמן טוב (קהלת, ז', 1)
A good name is better than precious oil
Ecclesiastes, 7, 1.
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人香千里香
Literally: When a person smells good, his fragrance reaches a distance of 1000 li (about 500 kilometer; 1 li is about 500 meters).
A good name spreads to far away places.
The same idea, referring to a bad name:
臭名远扬
A bad name spreads to far away places
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人过留名雁过留声
Man leaves his name everywhere he passes, [just as] a wild goose makes its sound everywhere it passes
A man leaves his good or bad reputation everywhere he passes; therefore, he should try to maintain a good name.
A similar idea is found in the idiom:
虎死留皮；人死留名
Literally: [Once] a tiger dies, [its] skin is left; [once] a person dies, [his] name is left.
When a person dies, all that is left is his reputation.
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三伏天卖不掉的肉—臭货
Meat that cannot be sold on the hottest days of the summer – stinky merchandise
Said of a person who has a bad reputation.
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( READ FROM right to left)
蚂蚁戴眼镜而没有那么大脸面
An ant tries to wear glasses – it has no face (to wear them) (pun)
Said of a person who does not acquire a good name or appreciation.
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三张纸画个人头 好大的面子
A portrait of a person on three pieces of paper – big face (pun)
Said of a person who enjoys a good reputation and much respect.
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金钱如粪土脸面值千金
Literally: Money is like dirt, [but] face (good reputation) is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
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跳进黄河洗不清
[Even] jumping into the yellow river will not wash out [the stain]
There is nothing one can do to clean a stained name.
A similar idea is found in the idiom:
白布掉在靛缸里千担河水洗不清
[When] a plain white fabric falls into a vase filled with indigo pigment, a thousand buckets of river water will not wash it clean
When a bad name sticks to someone, it is very difficult to restore his good name.
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人要面树要皮
Just as] a tree needs a bark [to survive], man needs face]
Man needs a good reputation in order to survive.
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不要脸
Literally: Does not want face.
Said of a person who has no sense of shame, is shameless.
