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面
miàn
face
她的面上露出了微笑。
A smile appeared on her face.
neutral
The front part of the head from the forehead to the chin, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks.
他的面很瘦。
His face is thin.
她的面上带着严肃的表情。
She wore a serious expression on her face.
Commonly used in everyday language to refer to the facial features or expression.
neutral
A surface or side of an object.
桌子的面很光滑。
The surface of the table is smooth.
这块布的另一面是红色的。
The other side of this fabric is red.
Used to describe the flat or outer part of something, often in contrast to another side.
neutral
A type of flour-based food, such as noodles or dumplings.
我最喜欢吃炒面。
I love eating fried noodles the most.
面食在中国很受欢迎。
Flour-based foods are very popular in China.
Refers to wheat-based foods, often used in compound words like 面条 (noodles) or 面粉 (flour).
neutral
To face or confront.
我们必须面对困难。
We must face our difficulties.
他勇敢地面对挑战。
He bravely faced the challenge.
Often used in phrases like 面对 (to face) or 面临 (to be faced with).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing '面' and '脸'
'面' and '脸' both mean 'face,' but '面' is more formal and can also refer to surfaces or food, while '脸' is more commonly used in everyday speech for the face.
Gold Rule
Context is Key
The meaning of '面' changes based on context. Always check the surrounding words to determine whether it refers to a face, a surface, food, or an action.
Word Origin
The character 面 (miàn) originates from the Oracle Bone Script, where it depicted a human face with eyes and a mouth. Over time, its meaning expanded to include surfaces, sides, and flour-based foods.
Usage Notes
面 is a versatile character with multiple meanings depending on context. It can refer to the face, a surface, a type of food, or an action like facing/confronting. Pay attention to the surrounding words to determine the correct meaning.
Word Breakdown
面
face/surface/flour-based food
root汉英词典