面目全非 (miàn mù quán fēi)

idiom (chengyu) HSK 6

miàn mù quán fēi

completely changed beyond recognition · utterly different from before · unrecognizable

Meaning

This chengyu literally means 'face and eyes completely not [the same]'. It describes something that has changed so drastically that it no longer resembles its original appearance or state. It emphasizes total transformation, usually in a negative sense, suggesting deterioration or undesirable change.

Usage

Commonly used to describe places, people, or situations that have undergone dramatic negative changes. Often appears in descriptions of how a familiar place has been altered by time, disaster, or development. While grammatically it can be neutral, it typically carries a sense of loss or regret about the change.

Examples

01
这座城市经过战争的破坏，已经面目全非了。
Zhè zuò chéngshì jīngguò zhànzhēng de pòhuài, yǐjīng miànmùquánfēi le.
After the destruction of war, this city has become completely unrecognizable.
02
多年不见，他被生活折磨得面目全非。
Duō nián bù jiàn, tā bèi shēnghuó zhémó de miànmùquánfēi.
Not having seen him for many years, he has been worn down by life beyond recognition.

Characters

Common collocations

变得面目全非
biàn de miàn mù quán fēi
to become unrecognizable
被...弄得面目全非
bèi ... nòng de miàn mù quán fēi
to be made unrecognizable by...

Antonyms

Origin

This classical idiom combines 面目 (face and eyes, representing appearance) with 全非 (completely not [the same]). The pairing of face and eyes is a common classical Chinese way to refer to overall appearance or character.