不要脸

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

不要脸 [2025/08/13 10:10] – created xiaoer不要脸 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
Line 1: Line 1:
-====== bù yào liǎn: 不要脸 - Shameless, Brazen, Have no sense of shame ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** bu yao lian, 不要脸, shameless in Chinese, brazen, what does bu yao lian mean, Chinese insult, Chinese face culture, mianzi, lose face, Chinese slang, how to use 不要脸 +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the powerful Chinese insult "不要脸" (bù yào liǎn), meaning "shameless" or "brazen." This entry explores its deep connection to the Chinese cultural concept of "face" (面子, miànzi), teaching you how and when to use this very strong term. Discover practical examples, cultural context, and related phrases to understand why calling someone "不要脸" is one of the most significant social criticisms in Mandarin. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bù yào liǎn +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Verb Phrase / Adjective +
-  * **HSK Level:** N/A (Extremely common colloquial term) +
-  * **Concise Definition:** To be shameless, brazen, or have no sense of shame. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** Literally translating to "don't want face," 不要脸 (bù yào liǎn) is a potent and direct insult. It's used to criticize someone who acts without any regard for their personal dignity, reputation, or basic social decency. It implies that the person has consciously abandoned the social expectation to be honorable, making it a much stronger accusation than simply making an embarrassing mistake. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **不 (bù):** The most common negative prefix in Chinese, meaning "not" or "no." +
-  * **要 (yào):** A versatile verb meaning "to want," "to need," or "to demand." +
-  * **脸 (liǎn):** The character for "face." +
-  * **Combined Meaning:** The characters literally assemble into **"not want face."** This is a very direct and visceral concept in Chinese. While English speakers might talk about "saving face," the idea is central to social interaction in China. To "not want face" is to actively reject one's own honor and place in the social hierarchy. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-The power of 不要脸 (bù yào liǎn) is impossible to grasp without understanding the concept of **[[面子]] (miànzi)**, or "face." In Chinese culture, "face" is a combination of a person's social standing, reputation, influence, and personal dignity. Maintaining one's own face and giving face to others is fundamental to social harmony. +
-There's a crucial difference between "losing face" (丢脸, diūliǎn) and "not wanting face" (不要脸, bù yào liǎn): +
-  *   **丢脸 (diūliǎn) - Losing Face:** This is often an unintentional, embarrassing situation. For example, you might "lose face" if you perform poorly on a test or say something foolish at a dinner party. It's a state of shame. +
-  *   **不要脸 (bù yào liǎn) - Not Wanting Face:** This is an accusation of a deep character flaw. It implies the person knows the rules of social conduct and decency but willfully chooses to ignore them for their own benefit. They are not just embarrassed; they are morally bankrupt and have no shame. +
-**Comparison to Western Culture:** While "shameless" is the closest English equivalent, it lacks the deep cultural weight. In the West, "shameless" can sometimes have a neutral or even slightly positive, rebellious connotation (e.g., "a shameless self-promoter" can be seen as a savvy businessperson). **不要脸 is never positive.** It is a severe condemnation of someone's moral character, rooted in the collective value placed on reputation and social honor. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-不要脸 is a highly informal and very strong insult. It should be used with extreme caution, as it can escalate a conflict significantly. +
-  *   **In Arguments:** It's a common term to shout during a heated argument when you feel the other person has crossed a major line. For example, if someone lies blatantly to your face or betrays a promise. +
-  *   **Social Commentary:** On Chinese social media, it's frequently used to call out individuals, companies, or even officials for unethical behavior—like plagiarism, corruption, or cheating. +
-  *   **As an Adjective:** It can describe a person or an action. You can say "**他很不要脸**" (Tā hěn bùyàoliǎn - He is very shameless) or describe an action as a "**不要脸的行为**" (bùyàoliǎn de xíngwéi - a shameless act). +
-It is almost exclusively negative and used to express disgust and contempt. Never use it in a formal setting or with someone you need to show respect to, like a boss or teacher, unless you are prepared for severe consequences. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:**  +
-    * 你怎么能这样对我?你真**不要脸**! +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme néng zhèyàng duì wǒ? Nǐ zhēn **bùyàoliǎn**! +
-    * English: How could you do this to me? You're truly shameless! +
-    * Analysis: A direct, emotional accusation used in a personal conflict. This is a very common way to use the phrase. +
-  * **Example 2:**  +
-    * 他是个**不要脸**的人,为了钱什么都做得出来。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā shì ge **bùyàoliǎn** de rén, wèile qián shénme dōu zuò de chūlái. +
-    * English: He's a shameless person; he would do anything for money. +
-    * Analysis: Here, 不要脸 functions as an adjective describing the noun 人 (rén). It defines his entire character. +
-  * **Example 3:**  +
-    * 公开偷别人的设计,这家公司太**不要脸**了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Gōngkāi tōu biérén de shèjì, zhè jiā gōngsī tài **bùyàoliǎn** le. +
-    * English: Openly stealing other people's designs, this company is so shameless. +
-    * Analysis: This shows the term used to criticize a corporate entity for unethical behavior. 太...了 (tài...le) is a common structure to add emphasis. +
-  * **Example 4:**  +
-    * 插队还这么理直气壮,我从没见过这么**不要脸**的。 +
-    * Pinyin: Chāduì hái zhème lǐzhíqìzhuàng, wǒ cóng méi jiànguò zhème **bùyàoliǎn** de. +
-    * English: Cutting in line and still acting so self-righteous, I've never seen someone so shameless. +
-    * Analysis: A perfect example from daily life. 理直气壮 (lǐzhíqìzhuàng) means "to be bold and confident in the belief that you are right," which makes the shamelessness even more infuriating. +
-  * **Example 5:**  +
-    * 你还好意思来?你**要脸**不要? +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ hái hǎoyìsi lái? Nǐ **yàoliǎn** bùyào? +
-    * English: You still have the nerve to show up? Do you have any shame? +
-    * Analysis: This is a rhetorical question form. "要脸不要?" (yàoliǎn bùyào?) literally means "Want face or not?" It functions identically to an accusation of 不要脸. +
-  * **Example 6:**  +
-    * 为了升职就这样出卖朋友,他也太**不要脸**了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wèile shēngzhí jiù zhèyàng chūmài péngyǒu, tā yě tài **bùyàoliǎn** le. +
-    * English: Selling out a friend just for a promotion, he's way too shameless. +
-    * Analysis: Highlights a specific action (betrayal) that is considered a classic example of 不要脸 behavior. +
-  * **Example 7:**  +
-    * 做了错事还不承认,真是**不要脸**到了极点。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zuòle cuòshì hái bù chéngrèn, zhēnshi **bùyàoliǎn** dàole jídiǎn. +
-    * English: He did something wrong and still won't admit it, he's shameless to the extreme. +
-    * Analysis: The phrase 到了极点 (dàole jídiǎn) means "to the extreme point," adding a very strong emphasis. +
-  * **Example 8:**  +
-    * 这种**不要脸**的话,只有他才说得出口。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng **bùyàoliǎn** de huà, zhǐyǒu tā cái shuō de chūkǒu. +
-    * English: Only he could say such shameless things. +
-    * Analysis: Shows 不要脸 modifying a noun, 话 (huà - words), to describe the content of what was said. +
-  * **Example 9:**  +
-    * 他欠我钱不还,还到处说我小气,怎么会有这么**不要脸**的人! +
-    * Pinyin: Tā qiàn wǒ qián bù huán, hái dàochù shuō wǒ xiǎoqì, zěnme huì yǒu zhème **bùyàoliǎn** de rén! +
-    * English: He owes me money and won't pay it back, and on top of that, he's telling everyone I'm stingy. How can such a shameless person exist! +
-    * Analysis: A complex sentence describing a scenario of compounded shameless acts, leading to an exclamation of disbelief. +
-  * **Example 10:**  +
-    * 你要是**要脸**的话,就应该马上道歉。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ yàoshi **yàoliǎn** dehuà, jiù yīnggāi mǎshàng dàoqiàn. +
-    * English: If you had any sense of shame, you would apologize immediately. +
-    * Analysis: This uses the positive form, 要脸 (yàoliǎn - to want face), in a conditional "if" sentence to demand an action. It's a slightly less direct, but still very forceful, way of accusing someone of being 不要脸. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **Mistake 1: Using it Casually.** The biggest mistake a learner can make is underestimating the severity of this term. It is **not** a lighthearted jab or a playful tease. It's a heavy insult that can burn bridges. Do not use it unless you are in a serious conflict and intend to cause offense. +
-  * **False Friend: "Shameless".** As mentioned, the English word "shameless" can be used in contexts like "shameless self-promotion" or "a shameless flirt" with a tone that can range from negative to neutral or even admiringly bold. **不要脸 has no such range.** It is 100% negative and condemns a person's character. +
-  * **Incorrect Usage Scenario:** A foreign student is negotiating the price of an item in a market. The vendor gives a high price. The student, trying to be funny, says, "老板,你太不要脸了!" (Lǎobǎn, nǐ tài bùyàoliǎn le! - "Boss, you're too shameless!"). +
-    * **Why it's wrong:** This goes far beyond playful bargaining. The student has just severely insulted the vendor's honor and character. The vendor would likely be deeply offended, and the negotiation would end immediately and poorly. A better, more common phrase would be "太贵了!" (Tài guì le! - "Too expensive!"). +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * **[[面子]] (miànzi):** The foundational concept of "face," dignity, and social reputation. Understanding "face" is key to understanding 不要脸. +
-  * **[[丢脸]] (diūliǎn):** To "lose face." This refers to an embarrassing act, which can be unintentional. It's less severe than being accused of 不要脸. +
-  * **[[厚脸皮]] (hòu liǎnpí):** "Thick-skinned," literally "thick face skin." A very close synonym for 不要脸, describing someone who is impervious to criticism and has no sense of shame. +
-  * **[[无耻]] (wúchǐ):** A more formal, literary synonym for "shameless." You might see this in written news articles or formal speeches. +
-  * **[[不知羞耻]] (bù zhī xiūchǐ):** A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning "to not know shame." It's more formal and emphatic than 不要脸. +
-  * **[[给面子]] (gěi miànzi):** The opposite action: "to give face," meaning to show respect and deference to someone to uphold their social standing. +
-  * **[[没脸]] (méi liǎn):** "To have no face." This is typically used for oneself to express profound personal shame or embarrassment, as in "I'm too ashamed to see them again" (我没脸再见他们了). It's introspective, whereas 不要脸 is an accusation against others.+