HSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #636, Medium
脸
liǎn
face, cheek; reputation
HSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #636, Medium
liǎn(lian3) T3
1face
2face, cheek; reputation
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March 24, 2026
脸(臉)liǎn(lian3)
脸 (liǎn) refers to the face, which is a key feature of human anatomy and often used in both literal and figurative contexts. It can denote not just the physical face, but also aspects like reputation or social standing, as in expressions about 'saving face'. In daily conversation, it is commonly paired with verbs like 'wash' (洗脸) or adjectives describing appearance.
Strokes11Radical⺼Frequency#636DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'face' (面子) is significant, often linked to social status and respect. Losing face can have serious implications in social interactions, making this term especially relevant in both personal and professional contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big, round face that resembles a 'lantern' when lit up, reminding you of the character '脸'. The '月' (moon) radical signifies the face's roundness and softness, while the '目' (eye) hints at the eyes on the face, making it easier to remember the pronunciation 'liǎn'.
Meanings of 脸
liǎn(lian3)
1face
2face, cheek; reputation
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 脸
脸Simplified
臉Traditional
11Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#636Frequency Rank
张Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 脸
Podcast: 脸
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AI Study Notes for 脸
Quick Contrast
脸 (liǎn) vs 面 (miàn) — use 脸 when specifically referring to the human face, while 面 can refer to the surface or aspect of something, not limited to the human face.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing '脸' as it is pronounced with a third tone (liǎn). This character is often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in discussions about reputation (e.g., 面子). Common collocations include '洗脸' (to wash one's face) and '丢脸' (to lose face).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, '脸' connects well with other vocabulary related to body parts (like '手' for hand) and emotions (like '开心' for happy). Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe physical appearance and feelings about reputation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '脸' with '面' (face) in certain contexts. For example, saying '我丢面' instead of '我丢脸' (I lose face) is incorrect; '面' is less commonly used to refer to a person's face in this idiomatic sense.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 脸
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Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 佥 represents the sound. Simplified form of 臉.
1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
2The sound half佥 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayflesh
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 脸?
Decomposition of 脸
IDS Structure⿰⺼佥
脸Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
佥qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 脸?
How to say face in Chinese
“face” in Chinese is脸liǎn
脸 (liǎn) refers to the face, which is a key feature of human anatomy and often used in both literal and figurative contexts. It can denote not just the physical face, but also aspects like reputation or social standing, as in expressions about 'saving face'. In daily conversation, it is commonly paired with verbs like 'wash' (洗脸) or adjectives describing appearance.
When to use 脸
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing '脸' as it is pronounced with a third tone (liǎn). This character is often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in discussions about reputation (e.g., 面子). Common collocations include '洗脸' (to wash one's face) and '丢脸' (to lose face).
脸 or something close to it
脸 (liǎn) vs 面 (miàn) — use 脸 when specifically referring to the human face, while 面 can refer to the surface or aspect of something, not limited to the human face.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '脸' with '面' (face) in certain contexts. For example, saying '我丢面' instead of '我丢脸' (I lose face) is incorrect; '面' is less commonly used to refer to a person's face in this idiomatic sense.
Write 脸
脸
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Grammar Patterns of 脸
脸 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Common phrases that include 脸 (liǎn) are '脸色' (liǎnsè), meaning 'complexion' or 'facial expression,' and '脸皮厚' (liǎn pí hòu), which means 'thick-skinned' or 'shameless.' These phrases demonstrate how the character is used in everyday language.
脸 (liǎn) specifically refers to the face, while 面 (miàn) can mean 'face' but also refers to surfaces or aspects of something. While both can sometimes be interchangeable in casual speech, 脸 is more commonly used to denote the human face.
脸 (liǎn) means 'face' in Chinese and can refer to the physical face or cheek. It is also used in various phrases related to reputation or social standing. The character can be paired with measure words like 张 (zhāng) for flat objects or 个 (gè) for general use.
You can use 脸 (liǎn) in sentences like '他的脸很红' (Tā de liǎn hěn hóng), which means 'His face is very red.' It can also be used in expressions such as '丢脸' (diū liǎn), meaning 'to lose face' or 'to be embarrassed.'
'脸' can be used in sentences like '我洗脸' (I wash my face) or '他很有面子' (He has a lot of face).
'脸' is mostly used in informal contexts but can appear in formal writing when discussing reputation or social issues.
Common phrases include '洗脸' (wash face) and '丢脸' (lose face), which express actions related to the face.
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