Definitions

liǎn (noun) face

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character (liǎn), simplified from the traditional character , is a phono-semantic compound. The "flesh" radical () on the left indicates that it is related to a body part, while the component (qiān) on the right provides the phonetic cue. Originally, it referred to the cheekbones or the area below the eyes, but over time its meaning expanded to encompass the entire face, becoming a commonly used word in spoken language. Additionally, it has derived metaphorical meanings related to reputation, dignity, and prestige (often referred to in English as "saving face").

Example Sentences Hide

我的很干净。

Wǒ de liǎn hěn gānjìng.

My face is very clean.

他洗了。

Tā xǐ liǎnle.

He washed his face.

妈妈看着我的

Māma kànzhe wǒ de liǎn.

Mom is looking at my face.

她的色有点苍白。

Tā de liǎnsè yǒudiǎn cāngbái.

Her complexion is a bit pale.

不要用脏手摸

Bùyào yòng zāng shǒu mō liǎn.

Don't touch your face with dirty hands.

我看到他红的样子。

Wǒ kàndào tā liǎn hóng de yàngzi.

I saw the way his face turned red.

天气冷,我的冻得通红。

Tiānqì lěng, wǒ de liǎn dòng de tōnghóng.

The weather is cold, and my face is frozen bright red.

尽管他努力保持镇定,但上还是露出了紧张的表情。

Jǐnguǎn tā nǔlì bǎochí zhèndìng, dàn liǎnshang háishì lùchūle jǐnzhāng de biǎoqíng.

Even though he tried to stay calm, his face still showed a nervous expression.