adverb / adjective HSK 4
Traditional 面對面
miàn duì miàn
face to face · in person

Meaning

This word literally means 'face facing face' and describes direct, in-person interaction between people. It emphasizes physical presence and direct communication, as opposed to remote or indirect contact through phone, text, or other means.

Usage

Commonly used to emphasize the importance or intimacy of meeting someone in person rather than communicating remotely. Often appears with verbs like 谈 (to talk), 交流 (to communicate), or 见面 (to meet). Native speakers use it to stress sincerity, seriousness, or the need for direct dialogue.

Examples

  1. 01
    我们需要面对面谈一谈这个问题。
    Wǒmen xūyào miàn duì miàn tán tán zhège wèntí.
    We need to talk about this issue face to face.
  2. 02
    网上聊天不如面对面交流有效。
    Wǎngshàng liáo tiān miàn duì miàn jiāo liú yǒu xiào.
    Chatting online is not as effective as face-to-face communication.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 面对面交流
    miàn duì miàn jiāo liú
    to communicate face to face
  • 面对面
    miàn duì miàn tán
    to talk face to face
  • 面对面沟通
    miàn duì miàn gōu tōng
    face-to-face communication
  • 面对面的会议
    miàn duì miàn de huì
    in-person meeting

Antonyms

Origin

Formed by repeating 面 (face) with 对 (facing/toward) in between, creating a vivid image of two faces directly opposite each other.

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