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正面 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
正面zhèngmiànfrontHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5825, Hard
正面zhèngmiànobverse sideHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5825, Hard
正面zhèngmiànright sideHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5825, Hard
正面zhèngmiànpositiveHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5825, Hard
正面zhèngmiàndirectHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5825, Hard
正面zhèngmiànopenHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5825, Hard
zhèngmiàn(zheng4mian4)zheng mian T4
  1. 1front
  2. 2obverse side
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March 24, 2026

正面zhèngmiàn(zheng4mian4)

正面 (zhèngmiàn) refers to the front or positive side of an object. It can also imply a direct or open attitude in interactions, suggesting honesty or straightforwardness. Commonly used in contexts related to descriptions of physical objects, but also applicable in discussions about personal qualities or situations.

Strokes14Frequency#5825DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being '正面' is highly valued, as it reflects a person's integrity and openness in social interactions. This aligns with traditional values of honesty and directness in communication.

Memory tip

Imagine a '正' (zhèng) person standing tall and proud at the '面' (miàn) of a stage, facing the audience. The '正' character looks like a person standing upright, symbolizing positivity and truth, while '面' resembles a face, which is often what we show to the world.

Meanings of 正面

zhèngmiàn(zheng4mian4)
1front
2obverse side
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 正面

正面Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 正面

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AI study notes for 正面

Quick Contrast

反面 (fǎnmiàn) refers to the opposite side or negative aspect of something, while 正面 (zhèngmiàn) indicates the front or positive side.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tones; '正' (zhèng) and '面' (miàn) are both fourth tone, which can lead to mispronunciation if not articulated clearly. This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in written language. A frequent collocation is '正面评价' (positive evaluation).

HSK Study Tips

While not specifically categorized under HSK levels, it shares roots with other Level 4 vocabulary that conveys direction or positivity, such as '前' (qián, front) and '好' (hǎo, good). Focus on recognizing its usage in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 正面 with 反面 (fǎnmiàn), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '这本书的反面很有趣' (The back of this book is interesting) when they mean the front is incorrect; it should be '正面'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 正面

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Component characters

正zhèngstraight
HSK 25 strokes止
View full entry
面miànface
HSK 29 strokes面
View full entry

How to say front in Chinese

“front” in Chinese is正面zhèngmiàn

正面 (zhèngmiàn) refers to the front or positive side of an object. It can also imply a direct or open attitude in interactions, suggesting honesty or straightforwardness. Commonly used in contexts related to descriptions of physical objects, but also applicable in discussions about personal qualities or situations.

When to use 正面

Be cautious with the tones; '正' (zhèng) and '面' (miàn) are both fourth tone, which can lead to mispronunciation if not articulated clearly. This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in written language. A frequent collocation is '正面评价' (positive evaluation).

正面 or something close to it

反面 (fǎnmiàn) refers to the opposite side or negative aspect of something, while 正面 (zhèngmiàn) indicates the front or positive side.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 正面 with 反面 (fǎnmiàn), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '这本书的反面很有趣' (The back of this book is interesting) when they mean the front is incorrect; it should be '正面'.

Write 正面

正
面

Practice writing 正面 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently asked questions about 正面

Yes, 正面 can describe someone as having a positive or straightforward character.

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