面貌

• Pinyin: miàn mào
• Hanzi breakdown: 面 = pictograph of a face; 貌 = 豸 (animal) + 皃, external appearance

Meaning

Face; appearance; look. The outward appearance or state of something or someone.

Can refer to a person's face or appearance, but more often used for the overall appearance or state of a place, organization, or situation. Common in describing changes or transformations, as in 改变面貌 (change the appearance).

Examples

1. 经过改革，这个城市的面貌焕然一新。 After the reforms, this city's appearance has been completely transformed.
2. 公司的精神面貌直接影响员工的工作态度。 A company's spiritual outlook directly affects employees' work attitudes.
3. 他虽然老了，但面貌还是很精神。 Although he's older, his appearance still looks spirited.

Usage Guide

Context: description, transformation, evaluation

Tone: objective

Do Say

• 农村的面貌发生了翻天覆地的变化。(The appearance of rural areas has undergone tremendous changes.)
• 保持良好的精神面貌很重要。(It's important to maintain a good mental outlook.)

Don't Say

• 她的面貌很好看。(For describing a person's looks, use 长相 or 外表 — 面貌 is more abstract or for general states)

Origin & History

面 (miàn, face) + 貌 (mào, appearance). Face and appearance; overall look.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal