"lose face" 是英语中常用的固定短语,核心含义是“丢面子”“失体面”“丧失尊严/威望”,指因行为失误、失败、被羞辱或当众出丑而在他人面前失去尊重或颜面。
强调在社交或公众场合中尊严、形象受损,通常涉及“自我形象”或“他人对自己的评价”。
1、 词性与结构:
是不及物动词短语,无需跟宾语,也不能用被动语态(不能说 "be lost face")。
注意:不能加所有格(如不说 "lose one's face"),因为 "face" 在这里是抽象的“面子/尊严”,而非具体的“脸”。
2、 常见搭配场景:
接状语(如 "in front of..." "before...")说明“在谁面前丢面子”;
主语可以是人(个人)或集体(公司、团队等)。
1、 个人场景:
He refused to apologize because he didn't want to lose face in front of his classmates.
(他拒绝道歉,因为不想在同学面前丢面子。)
Don't laugh at him—you'll make him lose face.
(别笑他,你会让他丢面子的。)
2、 集体场景:
The politician lost face after his lie was exposed by the media.
(那位政客的谎言被媒体曝光后,颜面尽失。)
The brand lost face when its "organic" products were found to contain chemicals.
(该品牌的“有机”产品被查出含化学物质,丢尽了脸。)
3、 否定/避免场景:
She chose to stay silent rather than lose face by admitting her mistake.
(她选择沉默,而非承认错误丢面子。)
He tried to save face by blaming the mistake on his assistant.
(他把错误推给助理,试图挽回面子。)
"lose face" 是描述“社交中形象受损”的高频短语,用法简洁,核心是“丢面子”,需注意其固定结构(不用被动、不用所有格),结合场景(公众/社交场合)使用。