tình diện
Definition
- Noun:
- Face-saving consideration; regard for appearances: The concern for maintaining social harmony, dignity, or reputation in interpersonal relations by considering outward appearances and mutual respect. It emphasizes acting based on social courtesy and preserving the "face" or esteem of others and oneself.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Chúng tôi giúp họ chỉ vì tình diện. (We helped them purely out of regard for appearances/face.)
- Anh ấy đồng ý dự tiệc vì tình diện với đối tác. (He agreed to attend the party out of consideration for his partner's face.)
- Đừng làm việc đó chỉ vì tình diện. (Don't do that just for the sake of appearances.)
Advanced Usage
- The concept is often used to describe actions motivated by social obligation, politeness, or the desire to avoid causing embarrassment or loss of face, rather than by genuine personal feeling or desire.
Variants and Related Words
Nể mặt (v): to show respect for someone's face/position; to defer to someone out of regard.
- Tôi đồng ý nể mặt anh ấy. (I agreed out of respect for him/deference to him.)
Thể diện (n): face; dignity; prestige; social image.
- Anh ấy rất coi trọng thể diện. (He highly values his face/prestige.)
Synonyms
- Social courtesy: polite behavior that considers social norms.
- Deference: humble submission and respect.
- Consideration for face: regard for someone's social standing or dignity.
Related Idioms
Giữ thể diện: to save face; to maintain one's dignity or social image.
- Họ tìm cách giữ thể diện trong tình huống khó xử. (They tried to save face in the awkward situation.)
Mất mặt: to lose face; to be humiliated or lose respect.
- Sự cố đó khiến ông ấy mất mặt trước đám đông. (That incident made him lose face in front of the crowd.)