<p>Basically they can mean the same meaning. But there are phrase where only one of them works. They are more or less a kind of custom and no specific rules.</p>

<p>For example, </p>

<ul>
<li><code>洗脸</code> vs <code>洗面奶</code></li>
<li><code>脸谱</code> vs <code>面具</code></li>
<li>or both works: <code>脸颊</code> and <code>面颊</code></li>
</ul>

<p>There is even a phrase <code>脸面</code>, but you can never say <code>面脸</code>.</p>

<p>However, generally speaking, 面 is a more literal/abstract/elegant form than 脸, and 面 can mean more than just face, e.g., 对面(the other side), 全面(total).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-19T01:40:01.383Z
2017-09-19T01:40:01.383Z
Harry Summer
<p>面 could mean:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>face: 抛头露面，笑容满面</p></li>
<li><p>surface; top: 路面，地面，平面</p></li>
<li><p>outside: 布面</p></li>
<li><p>side; aspect: 方面</p></li>
<li><p>extent; scope: 知识面</p></li>
<li><p>flour； powder: 白面, 胡椒面</p></li>
<li><p>noodle: 面条，牛肉面</p></li>
</ol>

<p>脸 could mean:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>face; facial expressions: 笑脸，圆脸</p></li>
<li><p>feelings &amp; sensibilities: 脸面</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Both 脸 and 面 could express feelings &amp; sensibilities: 面子，不给面子， 脸面，给脸不要脸， 不长脸。</p>

<p>There is also a phrase 脸皮厚 or 厚脸皮, meaning thick-skinned or have a audacity to do something. </p>

<p>That's pretty what I can think of. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-17T00:27:36.900Z
6.  and 7.  are simplified character of  '麵'
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-16T23:14:29.587Z
2017-09-16T23:14:29.587Z
dan
<p>rule of thumb.
when you see a character with '月' component that describes a body part, it usually refers to the organ.</p>

<p>so in your case, '脸' refers to face as a person's body part, while '面' refers to the person him/herself in a social situation.</p>

<p>take '面对面' vs '脸对脸' as example. '面对面' can be translated to 'face to face' or 'in person' as the two parties are physically close to each other, while '脸对脸' can only be translated to 'face to face' and emphasizes the fact that two faces are facing to each other.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T20:22:10.757Z
this is a great and insightful explanation! thanks so much, and hopefully you'll answer more questions on the site. :)
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T10:59:16.583Z
2017-09-18T10:59:16.583Z
alvisjiang
<p>面:Used in written language. 脸:use in spoken language.
Face: 1. The face of the person, the front of the head.
      2. The adjective refers to a person's dignity and face.
      3. Relative to face, such as: back mountain water.
      4. In person, direct contact.
      5. The shape of the line movement of geometry.
      6. Aspects, such as: fear of all aspects.
      7. Quantifiers, such as: a mirror.
      8. Flour made from grain.
      9, the food fiber is small and soft.
Face: 1. The person's face, the front of the head, from the forehead to the chin.
      2. The front of the object, such as the face.
      3. The adjective refers to a person's dignity and face.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-19T03:47:55.303Z
2017-09-19T03:47:55.303Z
Julia Collier
<p>In modern Chinese, when it comes to the meaning of &quot;face, they basically are the same. However, in classic Chinese, they mean differently. Knowing the origin of them may help you understand how they are used in words.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>面 meant &quot;face&quot;; however, 脸 is used to refer to face now.</p>
<p>脸 meant &quot;cheek&quot;; however, 脸颊 is used to refer to refer to cheek now.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Below is an abridge of a Ci poem written by 晏殊 in Song dynasty</p>
<blockquote>
<p>原是今朝斗草赢,笑从双脸生。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Loose translation:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It's the case that (she) won the game of 斗草 this morning, (so) smiles come out of her two cheeks.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As you can see, a man can not have two &quot;faces&quot;.
Since southern dialects remain more classic Chinese elements, you can find 面
more when it comes to face. As far as I know, in shanghai dialect, 面 is also used that way.</p>
<p>So a rough guideline is:</p>
<p>in literary and archaic words (for example, idioms), 面 is used more; while in colloquial words, 脸 is used more.</p>
<p>For example, there is a word 面目 (meaing: appearance,looking). However, you would say 脸和眼睛 when you refer to &quot;face and eye&quot;. Regarding your example of &quot;面对面&quot;, you can actually say &quot;脸对脸&quot;. However, they are different.
you can say：</p>
<ol>
<li>我想和他面对面地谈一谈。I wan to talk with him face to face.</li>
<li>他们俩脸对脸地站在那里。They two stand over there face to face.</li>
</ol>
<p>In case 1,&quot;面对面&quot; actually means &quot;physically close&quot; (e.g., not on the phone). Your face is not neccessarily opposite his face. While in case 2, &quot;脸对脸&quot; means &quot;facing each other&quot;, so their faces are opposite. If you use &quot;脸对脸&quot; in case 1, it sounds very strange. If you use &quot;面对面&quot; in case 2, it sounds too formal.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-17T18:35:09.587Z
awesome answer, thanks for the detail! as the "two faces" example came from a poem, is it possible the poem was referring metaphorically to someone having two faces (e.g., someone being both good and evil)?
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-17T18:35:59.337Z
so you're saying 脸对脸 should only be used metaphorically and not to mean the face literally or physically?
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-17T23:10:00.443Z
@Crashalot no. in this case, you use 双面. For example,  双面间谍, a spy working for both parties at the same time. 双面人生 a life of two aspects,  evil vs good,  cruel vs kind.... In the poem,  it 's not the case.
Huang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-17T23:24:02.567Z
@Crashalot no. 脸对脸 physically . 面对面 literally  and metaphorically
Huang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-17T23:37:03.400Z
@Crashalot consider the  word pairs 正面 vs 正脸， 侧面 vs 侧脸, and you can get the feeling of “metaphorically ” vs “physically ”
Huang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T03:00:47.927Z
“他们俩面对面地站在那里。” is more naturel than "他们俩脸对脸地站在那里。", at least to me. In fact, I rarely heard 脸对脸，but 面对面 is the common way to say it. However, 脸贴脸 is more common than 面贴面. I can't explain why. I think most of time you have to learn those phrases by rote and a general guideline doesn't work well for this.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-17T16:09:29.333Z
2017-09-17T16:09:29.333Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Huang
<p>In Cantonese, you usually use 面 to mean <code>face</code>.</p>

<p>However, it seems like in Mandarin, people use 臉 (e.g., 我的臉很紅) sometimes and other times use 面 (e.g., 面對面).</p>

<p>What are the guidelines around using 面 or 臉?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-18T01:38:23.167Z
if you want to say an organ, you can use 臉。Note: 面 can be used for decorated face (or surface), you can say 双面间谍 but never 双臉间谍,  user can 面具 but never 脸具. ^_^.
Daniel Yang
<grammar><mandarin><cantonese>
Mandarin: when to use 面 (mian) or 臉 (lian)?
# Mandarin: when to use 面 (mian) or 臉 (lian)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-16)

In Cantonese, you usually use 面 to mean `face`.

However, it seems like in Mandarin, people use 臉 (e.g., 我的臉很紅) sometimes and other times use 面 (e.g., 面對面).

What are the guidelines around using 面 or 臉?

**Tags:** grammar, mandarin, cantonese
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: if you want to say an organ, you can use 臉。Note: 面 can be used for decorated face (or surface), you can say 双面间谍 but never 双臉间谍,  user can 面具 but never 脸具. ^_^.  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2017-09-17. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

In modern Chinese, when it comes to the meaning of "face, they basically are the same. However, in classic Chinese, they mean differently. Knowing the origin of them may help you understand how they are used in words.

> 面 meant "face"; however, 脸 is used to refer to face now.
>
> 脸 meant "cheek"; however, 脸颊 is used to refer to refer to cheek now.

Below is an abridge of a Ci poem written by 晏殊 in Song dynasty

> 原是今朝斗草赢,笑从双脸生。

Loose translation:

> It's the case that (she) won the game of 斗草 this morning, (so) smiles come out of her two cheeks.

As you can see, a man can not have two "faces".
Since southern dialects remain more classic Chinese elements, you can find 面
more when it comes to face. As far as I know, in shanghai dialect, 面 is also used that way.

So a rough guideline is:

in literary and archaic words (for example, idioms), 面 is used more; while in colloquial words, 脸 is used more.

For example, there is a word 面目 (meaing: appearance,looking). However, you would say 脸和眼睛 when you refer to "face and eye". Regarding your example of "面对面", you can actually say "脸对脸". However, they are different.
you can say：

1. 我想和他面对面地谈一谈。I wan to talk with him face to face.
2. 他们俩脸对脸地站在那里。They two stand over there face to face.

In case 1,"面对面" actually means "physically close" (e.g., not on the phone). Your face is not neccessarily opposite his face. While in case 2, "脸对脸" means "facing each other", so their faces are opposite. If you use "脸对脸" in case 1, it sounds very strange. If you use "面对面" in case 2, it sounds too formal.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: awesome answer, thanks for the detail! as the "two faces" example came from a poem, is it possible the poem was referring metaphorically to someone having two faces (e.g., someone being both good and evil)?  
> **username_0**: so you're saying 脸对脸 should only be used metaphorically and not to mean the face literally or physically?  
> **username_7**: @Crashalot no. in this case, you use 双面. For example,  双面间谍, a spy working for both parties at the same time. 双面人生 a life of two aspects,  evil vs good,  cruel vs kind.... In the poem,  it 's not the case.  
> **username_7**: @Crashalot no. 脸对脸 physically . 面对面 literally  and metaphorically  
> **username_7**: @Crashalot consider the  word pairs 正面 vs 正脸， 侧面 vs 侧脸, and you can get the feeling of “metaphorically ” vs “physically ”  
> **username_3**: “他们俩面对面地站在那里。” is more naturel than "他们俩脸对脸地站在那里。", at least to me. In fact, I rarely heard 脸对脸，but 面对面 is the common way to say it. However, 脸贴脸 is more common than 面贴面. I can't explain why. I think most of time you have to learn those phrases by rote and a general guideline doesn't work well for this.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-09-19. Score: 1

Basically they can mean the same meaning. But there are phrase where only one of them works. They are more or less a kind of custom and no specific rules.

For example,

* `洗脸` vs `洗面奶`
* `脸谱` vs `面具`
* or both works: `脸颊` and `面颊`

There is even a phrase `脸面`, but you can never say `面脸`.

However, generally speaking, 面 is a more literal/abstract/elegant form than 脸, and 面 can mean more than just face, e.g., 对面(the other side), 全面(total).


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-16. Score: 1

面 could mean:

1. face: 抛头露面，笑容满面
2. surface; top: 路面，地面，平面
3. outside: 布面
4. side; aspect: 方面
5. extent; scope: 知识面
6. flour； powder: 白面, 胡椒面
7. noodle: 面条，牛肉面

脸 could mean:

1. face; facial expressions: 笑脸，圆脸
2. feelings & sensibilities: 脸面

Both 脸 and 面 could express feelings & sensibilities: 面子，不给面子， 脸面，给脸不要脸， 不长脸。

There is also a phrase 脸皮厚 or 厚脸皮, meaning thick-skinned or have a audacity to do something.

That's pretty what I can think of.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 6.  and 7.  are simplified character of  '麵'  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-09-18. Score: 1

rule of thumb.
when you see a character with '月' component that describes a body part, it usually refers to the organ.

so in your case, '脸' refers to face as a person's body part, while '面' refers to the person him/herself in a social situation.

take '面对面' vs '脸对脸' as example. '面对面' can be translated to 'face to face' or 'in person' as the two parties are physically close to each other, while '脸对脸' can only be translated to 'face to face' and emphasizes the fact that two faces are facing to each other.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: this is a great and insightful explanation! thanks so much, and hopefully you'll answer more questions on the site. :)  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2017-09-19. Score: 0

面:Used in written language. 脸:use in spoken language.
Face: 1. The face of the person, the front of the head.
2. The adjective refers to a person's dignity and face.
3. Relative to face, such as: back mountain water.
4. In person, direct contact.
5. The shape of the line movement of geometry.
6. Aspects, such as: fear of all aspects.
7. Quantifiers, such as: a mirror.
8. Flour made from grain.
9, the food fiber is small and soft.
Face: 1. The person's face, the front of the head, from the forehead to the chin.
2. The front of the object, such as the face.
3. The adjective refers to a person's dignity and face.


---

