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两面 (liǎng miàn) — both sides (of an object or issue); duplicity; double-dealing

Definition

Literally 'two sides': both physical sides of an object, or both aspects of an issue. As a person, 两面性 means being two-faced — outwardly agreeable but insincere inside.

noun
both sides (of an object or issue)duplicitydouble-dealing

Examples

  • 两面。
    Zhè zhāng zhǐ de liǎng miàn dōu yào xiě mǎn.
    Both sides of this paper need to be filled with writing.
  • 两面。
    Wǒ men yào kàn dào wèn tí de liǎng miàn.
    We need to see both sides of the issue.
  • ，。
    Tā zhè ge rén yǒu liǎng miàn xìng, wǒ bú xìn rèn tā.
    He has a duplicitous nature; I don't trust him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

两liǎngtwo
面miànside

The sense 'two/both' in 两 joins with 'side' in 面 to mean both sides or aspects.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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