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有面子什麼意思?

 The meaning of "Have face" 

You probably have heard the question 你有沒有面子? or some variation of it. This expression is really popular, and it's often used in TV shows, videos, movies, etc.

The direct translations of 面子 is face, but in most cases that's not the meaning that they are referring to. In most cases this expression refers to someone's reputation, honor or pride. But depending on the situation, the meaning can slightly change. 

Common Phrases 

To care about your reputation / have a reputation  

- 有面子: To have a reputation. This reputation has been giving to you because of the power you hold or your place in society. 

-面子很大 : To be well respected by people (have a big reputation). Usually this expression refers to someone that's famous, rich or simply someone that's perceived positively by people.

-愛面子： Someone who really cares about their reputation and they are constantly trying to protect it. 

-要面子: Someone who is constantly protecting their honor, but in an excessive way. Which can lead them to seem blind to their own weaknesses or a bit of a show-off. 

To not have a reputation or not care about it 

-沒面子: Someone who doesn't have a reputation and he or she is shameless.  It usually means that you have done something "wrong" that has lead to people judging you. 
*It also can mean that your reputation has been severely damaged 

-不要臉: Someone who doesn't care about their reputation or honor. It has a negative connotation 

-面子不夠大: Someone who is not really respected by people (barely has a reputation).

To protect someone's honor or reputation 

-給他面子: To protect someone's pride in front of a crowd. (you do it to be polite) 

 This phrase is used when you realized that someone of a higher status has made a mistake, or you have an opinion about their work. To "protect his or her honor" you would not discuss the matter in front of everybody and then maybe discuss the situation in private.

-給我一點面子: Don't make me look bad / do it out of respect for me.

-看在我的面子上: To do it out of respect for me. 

This phrase is mainly used when someone wants you to behave yourself.

To damage someone's reputation 

-不給+Somebody+面子: To not protect someone's reputation.

This phrase is used when you know that if you do a certain action it will make somebody look bad or slightly damage their pride, and you decide to still do it.

-丟臉: To slightly embarrass yourself (accidentally). You can also lead to someone "losing their face" if you do or reveal something that will lead them to be embarrassed.

-留面子: To not expose someone or don't let the person know that you know something embarrassing about them.

*It can also mean to stop further embarrassing the other person 

-不用給我面子: You don't have to do something just for my sake / don't mind me

*It refers to no have the need to stop yourself from doing something 


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