What is, for a chinese, to lose the face (mien tzi)?

What is, for a chinese, to lose the face (mien tzi)?
Sep 4, 2005 18:42
CROBERTO Points: Join Date: Jul 4, 2005 Status: offline	The traveller must respect the culture and habits of the country who he/she visits. In China, a important thing is the concept of face (mien tzi). The rule says: "Don’t allow somebody loses her/his face in reason of your atitudes". Face is the respect (consideration, reverence, appreciation) that somebody receive from the members of his/her group and the adequate respect that he/she must offer to them, in accordance their social status or hierarchic, so well the recognition of their reputation and their family in the community. What is, in your opinion, an attitude that must be avoid/done to preserv the face of the other, especially in the relationships between foreiger/chinese people?

Sep 4, 2005 18:42

CROBERTO
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Join Date: Jul 4, 2005
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The traveller must respect the culture and habits of the country who he/she visits. In China, a important thing is the concept of face (mien tzi). The rule says: "Don’t allow somebody loses her/his face in reason of your atitudes".

Face is the respect (consideration, reverence, appreciation) that somebody receive from the members of his/her group and the adequate respect that he/she must offer to them, in accordance their social status or hierarchic, so well the recognition of their reputation and their family in the community.

What is, in your opinion, an attitude that must be avoid/done to preserv the face of the other, especially in the relationships between foreiger/chinese people?

Sep 4, 2005 22:09

RITA
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Join Date: May 10, 2005
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I don't think there is much difference between Chinese and foreigners on how they feel humiliated or shamed, most things that can humiliated foreigners probably humiliate Chinese, too. Well, Chinese people created such a vivid expression to mean it - LOSE FACE!

It also depends on the types of people, for example, if someone take "manner" very seriously, s/he would feel shameful if s/he falls to the ground in front of people s/he cares. ..

Usually "lose faces" covers more than"humiliated" or "shame", e.g. at a dinner party, people may feel embarrassed (Diu lian) if s/he dropped wine glass or splashed food into others dress, etc... trivial things...

It's pretty simply to avoid making others feel lose face. Do not remind people they are ignorant even if they really, really are :), do not remind people what they committed badly before... etc :)

Anyway, miantzi means really much for Chinese.

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