What does 체면 mean?
체면 (che-myeon) means: Face / social prestige.
Not just simple pride, but the minimum level of formality and 'face' one must maintain to uphold social relationships.
◆ Public dignity and social harmony — Far deeper than mere pride. It is the social glue that keeps interpersonal friction low by ensuring neither party loses dignity in public or private interactions. Maintaining face means protecting both your own standing and the other person's comfort.
◆ Public dignity and social harmony — Far deeper than mere pride. It is the social glue that keeps interpersonal friction low by ensuring neither party loses dignity in public or private interactions. Maintaining face means protecting both your own standing and the other person's comfort.
🔊 From the story above
체면 — Che-myeon
완곡하다 — Wan-gok-ha-da
쿠션어 — ku-syeon-eo, "Cushion words"
여의치 않다 — yeo-ui-chi an-ta, "Circumstances are unfavorable"
저 주말에 쉬고 싶어요 — An-iyo, jeo jumal-e swigo sipeoyo, "No, I want to rest this weekend"
나중에 다시 얘기해요 — najeong-e dasi yaegihaeyo, "Let's talk about it later"
다음 기회에 — daeum gihoe-e, "Next time"
글쎄요 — geulsseyo, "Well..."
🔊 From part 2’s story
체면 — Che-myeon
염치 — yeom-chi
사양하다 — sa-yang-ha-da
권유하다 — gwon-yu-ha-da
배불러서요 — baebulleoseoyo, "Because I'm full..."
안 먹습니다 — an meokseumnida, "I do not eat."
눈치 — noon-chi
마음만 받을게요 — maeumman badeulgeyo, "I'll take your kind heart [as the food]"
Other sides of 체면
◆ social_tax_and_formality — Speakers use this word when discussing the social pressure to spend money on gifts, wedding items, or ceremonies to avoid appearing inadequate or failing social expectations. It appears in contexts where sending minimal items, such as only two bolts of cloth instead of an abundant trousseau, would result in social embarrassment for a bride. It combines with terms related to maintaining, losing, or cutting corners on one's public standing.
Spending heavily on social obligations often reads as an unavoidable tax on personal relationships, where individuals feel compelled to sacrifice financial sense to preserve their social image.
◆ vulnerability_blocker — Speakers use this to refer to the face or reputation one maintains before others. It appears in contexts where individuals worry about what others think of their status or actions. It combines with verbs like 차리다, 지키다, 유지하다, and 서다 when managing how one appears.
In close personal relationships, this can feel like an invisible wall that prevents someone from backing down, apologizing, or asking for help because admitting fault feels like a defeat.
Spending heavily on social obligations often reads as an unavoidable tax on personal relationships, where individuals feel compelled to sacrifice financial sense to preserve their social image.
◆ vulnerability_blocker — Speakers use this to refer to the face or reputation one maintains before others. It appears in contexts where individuals worry about what others think of their status or actions. It combines with verbs like 차리다, 지키다, 유지하다, and 서다 when managing how one appears.
In close personal relationships, this can feel like an invisible wall that prevents someone from backing down, apologizing, or asking for help because admitting fault feels like a defeat.
Read the full story → · More on this word (part 2) →
How it's actually used
- 체면이 서다.
che-myeon-i seo-da.
One's dignity is upheld.
💡 Describes a situation where social standing remains intact. - 체면을 차리다.
che-myeon-eul cha-ri-da.
To maintain one's dignity or save face.
💡 Describes acting in a way that preserves public reputation. - 체면이 깎이다.
che-myeon-i gkak-i-da.
To lose face or have one's dignity diminished.
💡 Describes a reduction in public respect or standing.
Related words in Culture & Language
완곡하다 wan-gok-ha-da여의치 않다 yeo-ui-chi an-ta쿠션어 ku-syeon-eo겸손 gyeom-son과찬 gwa-chan