min6面

Jyutpingmin6

Yalemihn

量詞Very common

Definition

Face, dignity, self-respect, or reputation.

keoi5佢min6面hung4紅zo2咗。

keoi5佢min6面hung4红zo2咗。

His face turned red.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Refers to the social currency of reputation and dignity, which is highly valued in local culture. Maintaining this is often more important than being factually correct in a public argument. It functions as a metaphorical commodity that can be given, lost, or saved.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

nei5你gam3咁joeng2樣zou6做zan1真hai6係hou2好mou2冇min6面aa4呀。

You really lose a lot of face by doing that.

keoi5佢wai6為zo2咗min6面zi2子，seng4成jat6日dou1都sei2死caang3撐。

He always insists on being right just for the sake of his reputation.

Common phrases

mou5冇min2面

to lose face

bei2畀min2面

to give face

lo2攞min6面

to seek validation or face

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the physical body part. When used in the context of reputation, it is often paired with verbs like 畀, 冇, or 攞 to indicate the dynamic of social standing.