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抛头露面 (pāo tóu lòu miàn) — to show one's face in public (often implying unwanted attention or putting oneself in the spotlight); (traditional) for a woman to appear in public, considered improper

Definition

A pejorative idiom for deliberately showing one's face in public to seek attention, often for a woman acting against traditional expectations of modesty. Carries a critical tone — not neutral 'appear in public'.

idiom
to show one's face in public (often implying unwanted attention or putting oneself in the spotlight)(traditional) for a woman to appear in publicconsidered improper

Examples

  • 抛头露面，。
    Tā píng shí bù xǐ huan pāo tóu lòu miàn, dàn zhè cì bù dé bù cān jiā.
    He usually doesn't like to show his face in public, but this time he had to attend.
  • ，抛头露面。
    Míng xīng chū mén shí cháng cháng dài tài yáng jìng, bù xiǎng pāo tóu lòu miàn.
    Celebrities often wear sunglasses when going out because they don't want to be seen in public.
  • ，抛头露面。
    Zài gǔ dài, dà jiā guī xiù hěn shǎo pāo tóu lòu miàn.
    In ancient times, well-bred young ladies rarely appeared in public.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

抛头
抛pāothrow头tóuhead
动宾Verb + object
露面
露lùreveal面miànface
动宾Verb + object

Throwing out the head and revealing the face describe showing oneself publicly.

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 拋; 抛 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 拋, not 抛, shows 手 (hand), 尤, and 力 (power).

Open 抛 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
路
路lù露lù
Same sound today

露 pairs 雨, a rain-related meaning part, with 路, a sound part.

Open 露 →

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
Idioms & Set Phrases

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