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正面 (zhèng miàn) — (noun) front side; obverse side; the side facing forward; (adjective) positive; constructive; direct; upfront

Definition

正面 contrasts with 前面 mainly in register and use: 前面 is everyday for spatial 'in front / ahead', while 正面 highlights the literal front face of an object (正面看, 正面图) or a 'positive / direct' quality (正面的评价).

noun
front sideobverse sidethe side facing forward
adjective
positiveconstructivedirectupfront
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 正面。
    Qǐng bǎ bāo zhuāng de zhèng miàn cháo wài fàng.
    Please place the package with its front side facing outward.
  • 正面。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng chuán dì le zhèng miàn de néng liàng.
    This movie delivers positive energy.
  • 正面。
    Tā gěi le wǒ men yí gè zhèng miàn de dá fù.
    He gave us a direct and frank reply.

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.

正zhèngfront/main
面miànside/face

“正” (“front/main”) and “面” (“side/face”) together mean “front side.”

Characters in this word

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
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsGood & Bad

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