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面对 (miàn duì) — to face, to confront

Definition

面对 is the general 'to face / confront' (problems, reality, difficulties), without implying resistance. 面临 is closer to 'be confronted with' a situation, while 对抗 means active resistance or opposition.

verb
to faceto confront

Examples

  • 面对。
    Wǒ men yào yǒng gǎn miàn duì kùn nan.
    We must bravely face difficulties.
  • 面对？
    Nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo miàn duì wèn tí le ma?
    Are you ready to face the problem?
  • 面对。
    Tā xuǎn zé miàn duì xiàn shí.
    He chose to face reality.

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
对duìopposite

“面” means face, “对” means opposite or toward; together they mean to confront something directly.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →
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