局面

• Pinyin: jú miàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 局 = 尸 (body) + 句 (phrase); 面 = pictograph of a face

Meaning

Situation; state of affairs; phase. The current condition or configuration of a situation.

Often used to describe complex situations in politics, business, sports, or personal life. Implies a broader perspective on how things stand, especially when the situation is challenging or requires strategic thinking to navigate.

Examples

1. 经过几轮谈判，双方终于打开了僵持的局面。 After several rounds of negotiations, both sides finally broke the deadlock.
2. 新政策的实施改变了整个行业的竞争局面。 The implementation of the new policy changed the competitive landscape of the entire industry.
3. 比赛进入下半场后，局面开始对我们有利。 After entering the second half, the situation began to favor us.

Usage Guide

Context: news, business, politics, sports

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 目前的局面对我们很不利。(The current situation is very unfavorable for us.)
• 我们需要打开新局面。(We need to open up a new situation.)

Don't Say

• 今天天气的局面很好。(Don't use 局面 for simple descriptions — use 情况 or 状况 for weather or basic conditions)

Origin & History

局 (jú, situation/game) + 面 (miàn, face/aspect). Together they describe the 'face' or appearance of a situation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal