A2 Idiom Formel

顔を立てる

kao o tateru

Save face for someone

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A vital social tool used to protect someone's reputation and dignity during a potentially embarrassing or difficult situation.

  • Means: Acting specifically to ensure another person doesn't look bad or lose respect.
  • Used in: Business meetings, family gatherings, and when correcting a superior's mistake.
  • Don't confuse: With 'making a face' (facial expressions) or literally standing someone up.
🤝 + 🛡️ = {顔|かお}を{立|た}てる

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means 'to save face.' In Japan, people care about what others think. If you do something to make your friend or boss look good, you are 'standing their face up.' It is like being very kind to their feelings in front of other people.
This is an idiom used when you act in a way that protects someone's reputation. For example, if your teacher makes a mistake, but you don't say anything to keep them from being embarrassed, you are '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'. It is very important in Japanese business and polite society.
This idiom describes the social action of preserving another person's dignity or honor. It often involves a sacrifice on your part, such as staying silent or giving up a small advantage, to ensure that a superior or a peer maintains their 'face' in a public setting. It's a key part of Japanese social harmony.
In Japanese sociolinguistics, '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる' refers to the strategic maintenance of another's social prestige. It is a proactive form of politeness where one navigates hierarchical relationships by ensuring that those in higher positions are not undermined. This is essential for long-term relationship management in professional environments, where 'saving face' is often more important than individual correctness.
This expression encapsulates the intricate Japanese concept of 'Mentsu' (face). It functions as a social lubricant, allowing for the resolution of conflicts without direct confrontation. By 'standing up' someone's face, you are validating their social identity and role within a group. Mastery of this phrase implies an understanding of the subtle power dynamics and the importance of 'Tatemae' in maintaining the delicate balance of Japanese social structures.
Beyond mere reputation management, '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる' represents a sophisticated cognitive linguistic framework where the 'face' serves as a metonym for the entire social persona. It involves a complex interplay of 'Giri' (social obligation) and 'Ninjo' (human emotion). To master this is to navigate the 'Uchi-Soto' boundary with precision, recognizing that the preservation of the collective's symbolic capital—embodied in the 'face' of its leaders—is paramount to the structural integrity of the social unit itself.

Signification

To act in a way that preserves someone's reputation or honor.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The concept of 'Mentsu' is so strong that people may even lie or hide the truth to save someone's face. This is not seen as 'dishonesty' but as 'kindness' and 'social wisdom.' Face (Miànzi) is a form of social currency. You can 'give face,' 'lose face,' or even 'borrow face' to get things done. It is the foundation of 'Guanxi' (relationships). While 'saving face' is understood, American culture often values 'transparency' and 'directness.' Correcting someone publicly is sometimes seen as 'being honest' rather than 'destroying face.' Honor is a collective trait. Saving the face of a family patriarch is essential, as his 'face' represents the entire family's standing in the community.

🎯

The 'Third Party' Rule

This phrase is most powerful when used to describe your actions regarding a third party. It shows you are socially aware.

⚠️

Don't Overuse

If you use it for every small favor, it loses its weight. Save it for situations involving hierarchy or public reputation.

Signification

To act in a way that preserves someone's reputation or honor.

🎯

The 'Third Party' Rule

This phrase is most powerful when used to describe your actions regarding a third party. It shows you are socially aware.

⚠️

Don't Overuse

If you use it for every small favor, it loses its weight. Save it for situations involving hierarchy or public reputation.

Teste-toi

Choose the most appropriate situation to use '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'.

Which of these is an example of '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : c

Saving face involves protecting someone's reputation, especially in a hierarchy.

Fill in the missing particle and verb form.

{部長|ぶちょう}（　）{顔|かお}を（　　　）ために、{私|わたし}は{黙|だま}っていました。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : a

The pattern is [Person] + の + 顔を立てる.

Complete the dialogue.

A: {田中|たなか}さんがミスをしたけど、みんなの{前|まえ}で{言|い}わないほうがいいかな？ B: うん、（　　　　　　　　）。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : a

Saving his face by not mentioning the mistake in public.

Match the phrase to the cultural concept.

Match '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる' with its core cultural value.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : a

Saving face is primarily about maintaining social harmony.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

2 questions

Yes, but it's less common. Usually, it's used for people 'above' you or equals in a public setting.

No. You might apologize *to* save someone's face, but the phrase describes the *goal* of the action, not the action itself.

Expressions liées

🔗

{顔|かお}がつぶれる

contrast

To lose face / to be disgraced.

🔗

{顔|かお}に{泥|どろ}を{塗|ぬ}る

similar

To humiliate someone.

🔄

{面目|めんぼく}を{保|たも}つ

synonym

To maintain one's honor.

🔗

{花|はな}を{持|も}たせる

similar

To give someone the credit.

Où l'utiliser

💼

Correcting a Boss's Mistake

Boss: この{会議|かいぎ}は{明日|あした}の10{時|じ}からですね。

You: {部長|ぶちょう}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、あとでこっそり「11{時|じ}でした」と{伝|つた}えた。

formal
🏠

Family Gathering

Uncle: {最近|さいきん}の{若|わか}い{者|もの}は{苦労|くろう}を{知|し}らんな。

You: {叔父|おじ}さんの{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、「そうですね」と{笑|わら}って{答|こた}えた。

neutral
🤝

Business Negotiation

Client: この{条件|じょうけん}では{厳|きび}しいです。

You: {相手|あいて}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てるために、{少|すこ}しだけ{値引|ねび}きを{提案|ていあん}した。

formal
🥂

Wedding Speech

Friend: {彼|かれ}の{失敗|しっぱい}の{話|はなし}をしてもいいかな？

You: {今日|きょう}は{彼|かれ}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、いい{話|はなし}だけにしておけよ。

formal
🏫

Group Project

Leader: {私|わたし}がこのパートを{作|つく}りました！（{実|じつ}はミスだらけ）

You: {彼|かれ}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、みんなで{静|しず}かに{修正|しゅうせい}した。

neutral
🙇

Introducing a Mentor

You: {先生|せんせい}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てるために、{一番|いちばん}いい{席|せき}を{用意|ようい}しました。

Mentor: ありがとう、{気|き}を{使|つか}わせてしまったね。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a friend's 'face' is a picture frame falling over. You reach out to 'stand it up' ({立|た}てる) so it doesn't break on the floor of shame.

Visual Association

A person holding up a large, smiling mask for someone else who is hiding behind it. You are the one holding the mask up so the world only sees the 'good' face.

Story

Once, a young employee noticed his boss forgot the client's name. Instead of correcting him, the employee said, 'As you mentioned earlier, Boss, Mr. Tanaka here has a great proposal.' By using the name, he saved the boss's face. The boss was grateful, and the employee was known as someone who can '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'.

Word Web

{顔|かお} (Face){立|た}てる (To stand up){面目|めんぼく} (Honor){メンツ|めんつ} (Face/Pride){和|わ} (Harmony){忖度|そんたく} (Surmising feelings){礼儀|れいぎ} (Etiquette){謙虚|けんきょ} (Humility)

Défi

Think of a time you corrected someone in public. How could you have '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる' instead? Write one sentence in Japanese describing that alternative action.

In Other Languages

English high

To save face

Japanese uses the verb 'to stand up' ({立|た}てる) instead of 'to save'.

Chinese high

给面子 (Gěi miànzi)

Chinese uses 'give' ({給|gěi}), emphasizing the face as a gift.

Korean high

체면을 세워주다 (Chemyeon-eul se-uda)

Uses the word 'honor/reputation' (체면) instead of 'face' (顔).

Spanish moderate

Salvar la cara

Often carries a slightly more negative or self-serving connotation.

French high

Sauver la face

Less common in everyday casual conversation than the Japanese equivalent.

German high

Das Gesicht wahren

The verb 'wahren' (to preserve/guard) is very formal.

Arabic high

حفظ ماء الوجه (Hifz ma' al-wajh)

Adds the poetic element of 'water' to the metaphor.

Portuguese partial

Manter as aparências

Focuses on 'appearances' rather than the 'face' of a specific person.

Easily Confused

顔を立てる vs {顔|かお}を{作|つく}る

Learners think it means 'making a face' in a social sense.

This refers to facial expressions or putting on makeup, not social honor.

顔を立てる vs {顔|かお}を{出|だ}す

Both start with 'Kao o...'

{顔|かお}を{出|だ}す means 'to show up' or 'to drop by' a place.

FAQ (2)

Yes, but it's less common. Usually, it's used for people 'above' you or equals in a public setting.

No. You might apologize *to* save someone's face, but the phrase describes the *goal* of the action, not the action itself.

C'tait utile ?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !