变脸 (biàn liǎn) — (verb) to suddenly change one's expression or attitude (usually to a hostile one); (noun, culture) face-changing performance in Sichuan opera

Definition

Literally 'change face'. In everyday use it means a sudden shift in expression or attitude, usually turning hostile. In Sichuan opera (川剧) it refers to the rapid face-mask-switching performance art.

verb
to suddenly change one's expression or attitude (usually to a hostile one)(noun, culture) face-changing performance in Sichuan opera

Examples

  • ，变脸。
    Tā gāng cái hái xiào zhe, tū rán jiù biàn liǎn le.
    He was smiling just now, then suddenly his expression changed.
  • ，。
    Tán pàn zhōng duì fāng fān le sān cì liǎn, qì fen hěn jǐn zhāng.
    During the negotiation, the other side changed their attitude three times, making the atmosphere tense.
  • 变脸，。
    Chuān jù de biàn liǎn biǎo yǎn fēi cháng jīng cǎi, guān zhòng dōu gǔ zhǎng le.
    The face-changing performance in Sichuan opera was spectacular; the audience all applauded.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

变biànchange
脸liǎnface

变 means to change, and 脸 names the face, so the word describes a sudden change in expression or attitude.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌變biàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

Open 变 →

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 臉; 脸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròubody part
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān臉liǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 臉 combines ⺼ (肉, body part) with 僉 as a sound part; the simplified 脸 is a later abbreviation.

Open 脸 →

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