Definition
面貌 (miànmào) has both a literal meaning ('face, facial features') and a common figurative meaning ('appearance, aspect') for a place or society. Unlike 相貌 and 容貌, which only describe a person's face, 面貌 can apply to abstract entities. Among the siblings, 面孔 is more formal/literary for 'face', while 面貌 is more neutral and broader in use.
noun
(formal) facefacial features(figurative) appearancelookaspect (of a place, organization, etc.)
Measure word · 个
Examples
- 面貌。Tā de miàn mào kàn qǐlái hěn hé'ǎi.His face looks very kind.
- 面貌。Zhège dìqū de miàn mào fāshēng le jùdà biànhuà.The appearance of this area has undergone huge changes.
- 面貌。Wǒmen yào liǎojiě zhège guójiā de shèhuì miàn mào.We need to understand the social outlook of this country.
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