脸 meaning and stroke order
Face
How to write 脸, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 脸
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- face
How 脸 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Flesh.
⺼ gives the meaning and 佥 hints at the sound.
Radical: ⺼ (meat), shared by 176 characters on this site.
How to remember 脸
The left side ⺼ means flesh, so 脸 (liǎn) is a body part. The right side 佥 (qiān) gives the sound, so think of the face as the part of your flesh that everyone sees.
脸 is the everyday word for face, and it also means reputation or dignity in phrases like 丢脸 (diūliǎn, to lose face). Example: 我每天早上洗脸。(Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang xǐ liǎn.) I wash my face every morning.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 脸 with 险 (xiǎn, danger) or 检 (jiǎn, check), which share the 佥 part. Remember that only 脸 has the flesh radical ⺼ on the left, because a face is part of the body.
Common words with 脸
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 脸色 | liǎnsè | complexion; look | HSK 5 |
| 脸盆 | liǎnpén | washbowl; basin for washing hands and face | HSK 5 |
| 笑脸 | xiàoliǎn | smiling face; smiley :) ☺ | HSK 6 |
| 丢脸 | diūliǎn | to lose face; humiliation | HSK 7-9 |
| 脸颊 | liǎnjiá | cheek | HSK 7-9 |
| 愁眉苦脸 | chóuméi-kǔliǎn | to look anxious (idiom); to look miserable | HSK 7-9 |
| 不要脸 | bùyàoliǎn | to have no sense of shame; shameless | |
| 脸蛋 | liǎndàn | cheek; face | |
| 脸红 | liǎnhóng | to blush; to redden (with shame, indignation etc) | |
| 满脸 | mǎnliǎn | across one's whole face | |
| 小白脸 | xiǎobáiliǎn | attractive young man (usually derog.); pretty boy | |
| 脸部 | liǎnbù | face | |
| 脸庞 | liǎnpáng | face | |
| 脸孔 | liǎnkǒng | face |
脸 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 脸
How many strokes are in 脸?
脸 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 脸 mean?
脸 (liǎn) means face. A common word with it is 脸色 (liǎnsè), meaning "complexion; look".
How do you pronounce 脸?
脸 is pronounced liǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 脸?
The radical of 脸 is ⺼, which carries the idea of "meat". Dictionaries list 脸 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 脸?
The traditional form of 脸 is 臉. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 脸 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 脸 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 脸 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 脸 and 面子?
脸 is the physical face and can also mean dignity. 面子 (miànzi) is used only for social face or reputation, as in 给他面子 (gěi tā miànzi, to give him face). You wash your 脸, never your 面子.
Is 不要脸 rude?
Yes, 不要脸 (bùyàoliǎn) means shameless and is a strong insult when said to someone. Between close friends it can be used jokingly, but avoid it with strangers or elders.