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面子が立つ (メンツがたつ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

面めん子つが立たつ

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

keep face; save face; not lose face

Used when someone's honor, reputation, or social standing is preserved in a situation. Often in the negative form 面子が立たない (to lose face).

彼かれは謝しゃ罪ざいすることで面めん子つが立たった。
He saved face by apologizing.
あんなに怒おこられては面めん子つが

立た

た

ない

。

Being scolded like that, he can't keep face.

Written forms

面めん子つが立たつ
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
面めん子つがたつ
Variant with kana for 立つ; less common but still seen.

Kanji

面mask, face, features
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
立stand up, rise, set up

Similar words

面めん子つを保たもつ
Similar meaning, but 面子を保つ emphasizes actively maintaining face, while 面子が立つ focuses on the state of face being preserved.
面めん目もくが立たつ
More formal and literary synonym; 面子 is a colloquial loan from Chinese, while 面目 is a native Sino-Japanese word.

Etymology

面子 (メンツ) is a loanword from Chinese 'miànzi' (face, reputation). Combined with the Japanese verb 立つ (to stand), the phrase literally means 'face stands', i.e., one's reputation remains intact.