Face value a big consideration for Chinese
(Beijing Today)
Updated: 2005-01-13 14:30

The idea that Chinese are very concerned with mianzi, or ‘face,’ may seem a tired stereotype, but a recent survey shows it has much validity.

Most Chinese people value the face a lot as an old saying goes that people live for polished face while trees live for bark. [baidu]

Over 80 percent of the 1,030 people queried Beijing Sci-tech Report in a study released last week said that face was an important consideration in their lives.

Only 11.98% thought face was moderately important, 2.61% said it was not important and 2.07% said they had no feelings on the issue.

"In China, 'face' mostly stands for one's social status and reputation, and people paying attention to face. They are paying attention to the external estimation of their social status," Huang Guangguo, a psychologist at Taiwan University told Beijing Sci-tech Report.

When asked, "What do you think of paying great attention to 'face' as a social phenomenon?" 51% of respondensaid it was hard to say if it was a good or bad thing, but that it was a useful habit.

Just over 28% said "face" was a remnant of traditional culture that modern Chinese should reject, 15.6% thought it was good idea and helpful to communication, and 5% said that they simply did not care about the matter.

The flip side of concern about face and keeping face is losing it in situations related to work or social standing.

Over 35% of respondents said not being able to do their work well or show their abilities was the most "face-losing" situation imaginable.

Another 17.29% chose "not having any social position and not having any say," 17.15% said "having limited income and money," 12.35% responded "not having enough social relationships," 10.88% chose "not having any power" and 6.99% answered "not having friends."

Close

Zhang Mi Pitt and Aniston separate Britney heads for university

Today's Top News     Top Life News
UK sees China arms embargo lifted before July         Call for official talks on charter flights rejected         Tete-a-tete improves China-US military ties         China, Portugal sign seven pacts         US ends fruitless Iraq weapons hunt         3G mobile go-ahead scheduled for 2005	Face value a big consideration for Chinese       Cyberlingo-a jargon not for general use       Roberts to experience pregnancy again       Prince Harry sorry for Nazi uniform stunt       Train tickets to rise for Spring Festival season       Education PC games picked in Shanghai