面目

• Reading: めんもく
• Romaji: menmoku
• Kanji breakdown: 面 (men/omo) — face, surface; 目 (moku/me) — eye, appearance
• Pronunciation: /me̞nmo̞kɯ/

Meaning

Face; honour; prestige; dignity; one's standing in the eyes of others.

A noun expressing social reputation and personal dignity. Appears in key expressions: 面目が立つ (face is saved, honour is upheld), 面目を失う (to lose face), and 面目ない (shameful; I am sorry). Deeply rooted in Japanese — and broader East Asian — cultural values around social honour and interpersonal reputation. Can also be read めんぼく in some set phrases.

Examples

1. 公の場での失言で彼は面目を失った。 He lost face due to a verbal blunder in public.
2. 長年の努力が報われ、恩師への面目が立った。 Years of hard work paid off, and he was able to save face with his mentor.
3. 面目ないことですが、ご期待に応えられませんでした。 I'm ashamed to say that I was unable to meet your expectations.

Usage Guide

Context: social relations, apology, honour, formal settings

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 面 (face, surface) and 目 (eye, appearance). Together they convey how one appears to others' eyes. The concept mirrors the broader East Asian cultural notion of 'face' (mianzi in Chinese).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal