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两面派 (liǎng miàn pā) — a two-faced person; a double-dealer; two-faced behavior; double-dealing

Definition

Literally 'two-faced faction': a person (or the behavior) who says one thing to your face and the opposite behind your back. Strongly negative — describes active deception, not just inconsistency.

noun
a two-faced persona double-dealertwo-faced behaviordouble-dealing
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 两面派，，。
    Tā zhēn shì gè liǎng miàn pā, zài tóng shì miàn qián shuō yí tào, bèi hòu yòu shuō lìng yí tào.
    He is really a two-faced person; he says one thing in front of colleagues and another behind their backs.
  • 两面派。
    Tā de liǎng miàn pā xíng wéi ràng suǒ yǒu rén dōu shī wàng le.
    His two-faced behavior disappointed everyone.
  • ，两面派。
    Zài zhèng zhì shàng, liǎng miàn pā wǎng wǎng zuì bèi rén tǎo yàn.
    In politics, two-faced people are often the most despised.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

两面two-sided
两liǎngtwo面miànside
偏正Modifier + head
派pàifaction

两面 “two sides” + 派 “faction” gives a double-faced person or behavior.

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 →

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
水水shuǐwater; river
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂢
𠂢𠂢派pài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

派 is built from 水 (water/river) and 𠂢. 𠂢 gives the sound, and 水 was added later to tell the character apart from the older form.

Open 派 →
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Personality & Traits

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