Meaning:
Lose face - Be humiliated; lose one's reputation.
Background:
`Lose face' began life in English as a translation of the Chinese phrase `tiu
lien'. That phrase may also be expressed in English as `to suffer public
disgrace', that is, to be unable to show one's face in public. In 1876, the
consular official Sir Robert Hart published a series of essays - These from
Land of Sinim - Essays on the Chinese question which included this
observation:
"The country [China] begins to feel that Government consented to
arrangements by which China has lost face; the officials have long been
conscious that they are becoming ridiculous in the eyes of the people."
Hart was well-regarded in both Britain and China. In addition to his
baronetcy he was awarded the CMG, KCMG, and GCMG. China honoured him with
several high status awards, including the title of grand guardian of the heir
apparent, an honour never before (or after) bestowed on a foreigner.
`Save face' comes later. It has no direct equivalent in Chinese and is merely
the converse of `lose face'. The first known record of it in print is in the
June 1899 edition of The Harmsworth Magazine:
"That will save my face in the City."
- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]
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It's great to learn the origins of the phrases and about Hart. But 'save face'
does not collide head-on with 'lose face.' For that, we need to 'gain face.' All
three are visceral to a Chinese and maybe even a Korean or Japanese.
Like cash, 'face' can be given and taken away and sometimes are more desired
than other currencies in a transaction. That might be why we say 'gild the face'
when one, often undeserving, comes into a sizeable chunk of the stuff.
Oddballs snub mainstream standards for personal image and morality and are said
to own 'no face.' Those that proactively 'ditch face' must feel at home in
Christendom where people feel guilt, which is private, instead of shame, which
is public, according to "The Wierdest People in the World," a book by Joseph
Henrich. So far, my experience living in north America seems to confirm only the
no-shame part. As no one has confessed to me, I wouldn't know about their guilt,
if any.
