save face; show respect
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb
to give face; to show respect; to spare someone's dignity
informalOften used in social contexts to maintain harmony or to ask someone to be lenient. Can be used in both positive (showing respect) and negative (implying someone is not showing enough respect) contexts.
Lǎo老
bǎn板
jīn今
tiān天
hěn很
gěi给
liǎn脸
，
tóng同
yì意
le了
wǒ我
de的
fāng方
àn案
。
The boss gave me a lot of face today by agreeing to my proposal.
Nǐ你
bié别
bù不
zhī知
hǎo好
dǎi歹
，
wǒ我
yǐ已
jīng经
hěn很
gěi给
nǐ你
liǎn脸
le了
。
Don't be ungrateful; I've already shown you a lot of respect.
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Kàn看
zài在
lǎo老
tóng同
xué学
de的
miàn面
zi子
shàng上
，
nǐ你
jiù就
gěi给
tā他
gè个
liǎn脸
ba吧
。
For the sake of our old classmates, just give him some face.
Tā他
dāng当
zhòng众
mà骂
rén人
，
yī一
diǎn点
bù不
gěi给
duì对
fāng方
liǎn脸
。
He cursed at someone in public, showing no respect at all.
Zhè这
cì次
wǒ我
jiù就
gěi给
nǐ你
liǎn脸
，
xià下
bù不
wéi为
lì例
。
I'll give you face this time, but don't let it happen again.