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面孔 (miàn kǒng) — face (formal or literary sense)

Definition

A written/literary word for 'face' — the physical face or, figuratively, the visible appearance of a place or thing (as in 'the face of the city'). More abstract than 面部 (just the facial area); more formal than 脸.

noun
face (formal or literary sense)
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 面孔。
    Zhè zhāng miàn kǒng kàn qǐ lái yǒu xiē miàn shú.
    This face looks somewhat familiar.
  • 面孔。
    Tā lù chū le yí fù kùn huò de miàn kǒng.
    He revealed a puzzled expression on his face.
  • 面孔。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì de miàn kǒng měi tiān dōu zài gǎi biàn.
    The face of this city changes every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

面miànface
孔kǒngfeatures

Both 面 and 孔 refer to the face or its features, so together they name a person's face.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

  • 丿丿piěopening
  • 子子zǐchild

孔 pairs 丿 (an opening) with 子 (a child), showing an opening in a newborn's skull.

Open 孔 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Body Parts

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