face
Definitions
The front of the head, from forehead to chin.
脸；面部。
The outward surface or front side of something.
表面；正面。
To be turned toward; to confront or deal with.
面对；正视；应对。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedface comes from Latin faciēs, 'shape, outward form' — itself from facere, 'the way a thing is made.' Your face is your made outward form, the front you show the world. From there: to face something is to turn that front toward it, and the face of a cliff or a clock is its outward front. Same root as surface and preface.
Root fac still carries 273 more wordsWhy It Means This
Face links a body part to abstract ideas through one image: the outward form a thing presents. Latin faciēs (from facere, 'to make') meant 'the made appearance.' That gave us both the literal face and metaphors like 'save face' (protect your outward standing) and 'face a challenge' (turn toward it). Surface (sur- + face) and preface (pre- + face, 'said before the face of the book') share the root.
Common Collocations
- 1.face to face面对面
- 2.save face保全面子
- 3.face the facts面对现实
- 4.make a face做鬼脸
- 5.in the face of面对（困难等）
Example Sentences
- 1.
She had a warm smile on her face.
- 2.
Our windows face the ocean.
- 3.
We have to face the truth, however hard it is.
- 4.
Climbers scaled the north face of the mountain.