Not only do the parents feel proud of their child’s achievements but also feel that they have gained Face through the child’s achievement. © 2020 Yoyo Chinese Inc. All Rights Reserved. This has the potential to wreck business deals and sour relationships, so with regard to the issue of Face, most Chinese businesspeople tread with care. Like many Westerners, I thought I understood what “face” meant before I went to China. Through no fault of her own, she is constantly blamed for her manager’s failings and shortsightedness. After calling face “that hollow thing which men in China live by” (1936:191) and giving a long list of examples of how consideration of face leads to absurdities, he closes his discussion of the matter by saying: “When face is lost at the law courts, then we will have justice. On one hand, relationships in China are built and maintained by giving Face and increasing the prestige of one’s friends and contacts. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, file) JASON MCBRIDE learned Chinese while serving as a missionary in Taiwan for two years. At the end of nine months of military standoff with the Indian Army in eastern Ladakh, China has only lost face and earned a bad name, said Lt Gen YK Joshi, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Northern Command. After the first two switches, we knew that our team of foreigners was going to win by a long distance. Why do non-Chinese people feel that Chinese is difficult to learn? Jason can’t wait for his next chance to travel in China. Something as simple as this can be a crucial factor that can land important business deals, and lead to rewarding friendships that will last a lifetime. ( Log Out /  This can be observed by the Chinese … Through his mastery of the Chinese language and culture, as well as his empathy and understanding towards the Chinese point of view, he advises Chinese companies on successfully going global.View all posts by Sean Upton-McLaughlin. Actions or words that are disrespectful may cause somebody to “lose face” while gifts, awards and other respect-giving actions may “give face”. There was a team made up of teenage students, a team of foreign English teachers, a parents team, and a team of Chinese teachers. Face, or miàn zi, is a commonly-heard term with regard to Chinese culture but it can be hard for Westerners and non-Asians to completely grasp and understand. With two business people of the same relative position or status, Face is often given and received equally and is the cement that holds a relationship together. This would cause the employee to lose face. For example, status in a Chinese family is divided by very distinct roles; there are even separate terms used to address older and younger cousins, aunts, and uncles. By Peter Foster in … Westerners can easily misinterpret the idea of face as Chinese people simply being too sensitive or thin skinned. When you lose face it means your ability to function as part of the social order has been damaged. It’s true that Face sounds complicated – and it is – but there’s no need to despair. You can find Jason here at Yoyo Chinese and on his business site Client Magnet Marketing. Are Relationships Predestined? "Losing face" and "saving face" are ideas often used in Western cultures. Not having face (没面子): Not having a good reputation or having bad social standing. Sometimes giving Face to a contact entails simply words and compliments, though sometimes gifts are required and invitations to dinners, entertainment, or other social events. For example, giving someone Face (e.g. In addition, the young man’s friends may look down on him due to his failure to marry and hence give him less Face through their actions and words during social gatherings. Face, or miàn zi, is a commonly-heard term with regard to Chinese culture but it can be hard for Westerners and non-Asians to completely grasp and understand. Many Chinese leaders and managers expect respect from their subordinates and in many cases expect to be obeyed without question, no matter the rationality or fairness behind a request. A tranquil pond, hidden away in the heart of the city. Don’t forget to give Face when you want something from someone in China (e.g., a business deal or a favor). So long as a person is determined to learn, it can be achieved! 8 years ago. Let me know in the comments. on Gaining and Losing Face in China. "losing face" is more like "feeling humiliated" or "not getting the respect you deserve". To achieve success in a Chinese work environment, you will need to grasp the importance of face in China. They are in China! The race began and our team quickly went into the lead. In China and much of Asia, Face represents a person’s reputation and feelings of prestige within multiple spheres, including the workplace, the family, personal friends, and society at large. Everyone in the activity was split into different groups. Also, Chinese culture in and of itself has both liberal and conservative interpretations, even before China’s modernization. But Chinese culture brings face to a whole new complicated level. If you drove a fashionable or luxurious car to attend a friend’s party, then the majority of your friends would feel that you had face. He also studied in Shanghai as part of an exchange program while in law school. A Chinese mother makes many efforts to give her child the opportunity for a good education, both through financial and emotional support. The influx of Western culture into many of the larger Chinese coastal cities (and other more developed areas), along with greater numbers of local Chinese with experience dealing with Westerners, has led to more flexible interpretations of business and social etiquette. In light of his failure to marry when his family,  friends, and society expect him to, he feels a significant internal loss of Face. To “lose face” (丢面子 – diū … The severe consequences of losing face make many Chinese strive to save face, for themselves and others. Most Westerners who are planning to China for business have almost certainly heard of the concept of “Face,” or Miàn Zi (面子). The Chinese concept of “face” (aka 面子 or miànzi) refers to a cultural understanding of respect, honor and social standing. The emergence of China to greater prominence is a moment of great potential and human achievement. Giving face (给面子): Giving deference to someone in order to improve their standing or reputation, or to pay homage to their superior reputation or standing. Please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section below. Bending the truth seems common in China, however, pointing out that someone is lying or embellishing details will definitely cause them to lose face. Unfortunately many have been unscrupulous. See also: lose, to. Thanks for the comment Calvin, though I don’t personally consider knowledge of Chinese culture to be insider information. It’s well written and covers an amazingly important principle. The modern concept that ties face to the idea of honor and reputation is clearly related to ideas of Confucianism, but it is impossible to find the exact origin of the concept of face in Chinese culture. The arrest in China of … A young Chinese woman is stuck in a stressful job with an abusive manager at a local Chinese company. Through being berated daily in front of her coworkers, the young woman continuously feels she is losing Face. English face meaning "prestige; honor" is the only case of a Chinese semantic loan. But in reality, face is a complicated part of good manners in China. China did not want to ‘lose face’ by backing Pakistan on FATF blacklist: Report. I Feel like this is a useful article to relate to Chinese people in general not just those from china itself haha. lose face phrase. Follow the China Culture Corner to receive regular updates by email! Also, if you can achieve something through your personal contacts that others cannot through normal channels, you would also be thought to have face. And shortsightedness because we china loses face them at a variety of relay races in. Follow the China culture Corner on WordPress.com stressful job with an abusive manager at china loses face! 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