surface; open
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
surface; apparent situation; in the open
informalOften refers to what is visible or publicly stated, as opposed to underlying or hidden realities. Can be suffixed with 儿 (ér) in speech.
Tā他
míng明
miàn面
shàng上
shì是
shuō说
ér儿
zi子
，
qí其
shí实
shì是
shuō说
gěi给
bié别
rén人
tīng听
de的
。
On the surface, he's talking about his son, but actually, he's speaking for others to hear.
Bǎ把
wèn问
tí题
bǎi摆
dào到
míng明
miàn面
shàng上
dào倒
hǎo好
jiě解
jué决
xiē些
。
It's easier to solve problems when they're brought out into the open.
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Zhè这
shì事
ér儿
bù不
néng能
zhǐ只
zài在
míng明
miàn面
ér儿
shàng上
shuō说
，
děi得
sī私
xià下
gōu沟
tōng通
。
This matter shouldn't just be discussed openly; we need to communicate privately.
Gōng公
sī司
míng明
miàn面
de的
guī规
dìng定
shì是
yī一
tào套
，
shí实
jì际
yùn运
zuò作
yòu又
shì是
lìng另
yī一
tào套
。
The company's official rules are one thing, but how it actually operates is another.
Tā他
gěi给
de的
míng明
miàn面
ér儿
shàng上
de的
lǐ理
yóu由
méi没
rén人
xiāng相
xìn信
。
Nobody believed the superficial reason he gave.