Definition

1. Adjective phrase:
   • To be a credit to someone / to bring honor to someone: Used to describe an action or achievement that makes a person, family, or group feel proud and respected by others. It enhances their social standing or reputation.
   • To be a shame / to be embarrassing: Used ironically or sarcastically to point out that an action has brought disgrace, embarrassment, or loss of face to someone involved.

Usage Examples

• To bring honor:

  • Con thi đỗ làm đẹp mặt cả gia đình. (My child passing the exam brings honor to the whole family.)
  • Thành tích của anh ấy thật sự làm đẹp mặt cho công ty. (His achievement truly does credit to the company.)

• To be a shame (ironic):

  • Đẹp mặt chưa? Lại bị thầy giáo phê bình. (Isn't it a shame? Getting criticized by the teacher again.)
  • Hành động đó của cậu thật đẹp mặt cho bọn mình! (That action of yours is such an embarrassment to us!)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in a comparative or relational context, focusing on how one person's behavior reflects on another person or group (e.g., parents, team, country).
• The ironic meaning is highly context-dependent and is usually signaled by tone of voice or a rhetorical question like "Đẹp mặt chưa?".

Variants and Related Words

• Làm rạng danh (verb phrase): to glorify, to bring glory to. This is a more formal synonym for the positive sense.

  • Cô ấy làm rạng danh tổ quốc. (She brings glory to the homeland.)

• Mất mặt (adjective phrase): to lose face, to be disgraced. This is a direct antonym.

  • Hành vi đó khiến anh ta mất mặt trước đám đông. (That behavior made him lose face in front of the crowd.)

Synonyms

• Bring honor to: to cause someone to receive respect and admiration.
• Do credit to: to be so good or successful that people connected to you feel proud.
• Be an embarrassment to: to cause someone to feel ashamed or awkward (for the ironic sense).

Related Idioms

• Nở mày nở mặt: to be elated with pride (literally: for one's eyebrows and face to blossom). This idiom expresses the resultant feeling of someone who has been "đẹp mặt."
  • Con trai đỗ đại học, ông bà nở mày nở mặt với hàng xóm. (Their son got into university, the grandparents were bursting with pride in front of the neighbors.)

1. Be credit to, be a gloryto, do honour to
   • Học giỏi làm đẹp mặt mẹ cha
     Doing well at school does honour to one's parents
2. Shame
   • Đẹp mặt chưa?
     Isn't it a shame on you?