Definition

Noun: - Countenance, facial appearance: Refers specifically to the appearance and beauty of a human face. It often carries a connotation of evaluating or describing someone's looks, particularly their attractiveness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cô ấy có dung nhan xinh đẹp. (She has a beautiful countenance.)
  • Dung nhan của chàng trai ấy rất ưa nhìn. (That young man's facial appearance is very pleasant.)
  • Thời gian đã làm phai mờ dung nhan. (Time has faded her beauty/visage.)

Advanced Usage

• This is a literary and somewhat formal word, commonly found in poetry, classical literature, or descriptive prose. In everyday modern conversation, words like "khuôn mặt" (face) or "vẻ ngoài" (appearance) are more common.
• It often implies a judgment or appreciation of beauty, not just a neutral description of a face.

Variants and Related Words

• Dung mạo (noun): A very close synonym, also meaning countenance or facial features. It can sometimes sound slightly more formal or archaic than "dung nhan".
• Nhan sắc (noun): Beauty, good looks. While "dung nhan" focuses on the face, "nhan sắc" can refer to overall beauty, including figure and demeanor.

Synonyms

• Gương mặt (noun): Face. A more common and neutral term.
• Vẻ mặt (noun): Facial expression, look on one's face.
• Diện mạo (noun): Visage, appearance (can be used for things other than people, unlike "dung nhan").

Related Idioms

• Dung nhan đẹp đẽ: A beautiful countenance.
• Dung nhan tàn phai: (One's) beauty has faded.
• Lấy dung nhan làm vốn: To rely on one's looks (as capital/asset).

noun

1. countenance