Definition

Noun: 1. Facial complexion; the color and appearance of one's face: Refers to the natural skin tone and overall color of a person's face, often indicating health or emotional state. 2. Countenance; facial expression: Refers to the look on one's face, conveying emotions, attitudes, or reactions.

Usage Examples

• (After hearing the news, his face turned pale.)
• (She has a rosy complexion, looking very healthy.)
• (Looking at the boss's stern countenance, everyone fell silent.)
• (Don't mind their expressions, just do your own work.)

Advanced Usage

• Biến sắc mặt / Thay đổi sắc mặt: To change one's facial expression (usually due to shock, anger, or surprise); to lose composure.
  • Nghe tin dữ, bà ta biến sắc mặt. (Upon hearing the bad news, her face changed color.)
• Giữ sắc mặt: To maintain one's composure or a neutral expression.
  • Dù rất tức giận nhưng anh ấy vẫn cố giữ sắc mặt bình thản. (Although very angry, he tried to keep a straight face.)
• Sắc mặt không vui / Sắc mặt ủ rũ: An unhappy or gloomy facial expression.
  • Cô ấy đi làm về với sắc mặt không vui. (She came home from work with an unhappy look on her face.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nét mặt (noun): Facial features or a specific aspect of one's expression. Often used similarly to but can focus more on specific lines or looks.
  • Nét mặt anh ta lộ vẻ lo lắng. (His expression showed worry.)
• Vẻ mặt (noun): The appearance or look of the face; expression. Very close in meaning to .
  • Cô ấy có vẻ mặt rất hiền lành. (She has a very kind face.)

Synonyms

• Gương mặt / Mặt (noun): Face. A more general term for the physical face.
• Thần sắc (noun): Complexion and spirit; the overall vitality and expression visible on the face.
• Biểu cảm (noun): Expression (can be facial or otherwise).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Không biết ngượng sắc mặt: To be shameless; to not know how to blush.
  • Làm sai mà còn cãi, thật không biết ngượng sắc mặt. (You made a mistake and still argue, you really have no shame.)
• Đỏ mặt tía tai: (Idiom) To turn red in the face (from anger or embarrassment). This describes a specific, intense change in .
  • Ông ấy tức giận đến đỏ mặt tía tai. (He was so angry his face turned purple.)

noun

1. face, complexion countenance