メンツ

メ

ン

ツ

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

face; honor; reputation

usually written using kana alone

Refers to one's social standing, dignity, or reputation, especially in the context of not losing face. Common in phrases like メンツを保つ (to save face) or メンツが立たない (to lose face).

from Chinese miànzi

彼かれは部ぶ下かの前まえでメンツを保たもとうとした。

He tried to save face in front of his subordinates.

そんなことをしたら、彼かれのメンツが丸まるつぶれだ。

If you do that, his reputation will be completely ruined.

noun

meld (mahjong)

usually written using kana alonemahjong›

In mahjong, a set of tiles declared as a combination (e.g., a pung or chow).

彼かれはすぐにメンツを鳴ないて、手てを進すすめた。
He quickly called a meld and advanced his hand.

noun

lineup (mahjong players)

usually written using kana alone

The group of players participating in a mahjong game; often used when talking about gathering enough people to play.

今こん夜やのメンツはいつもの三さん人にんと新しん人じん一人ひとりだ。
Tonight's lineup is the usual three plus one newcomer.

noun

attendees; members; participants

colloquial›usually written using kana alone

Colloquial extension from mahjong; refers to the people present at a meeting, event, or gathering. Often used in casual conversation.

今日きょうの飲のみ会かいのメンツはなかなか豪ごう華かだね。
Today's drinking party lineup is pretty impressive, isn't it?

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉のメンツを潰つぶすto make someone lose face
上じょう司しの前まえで反はん論ろんして、彼かれのメンツを潰つぶしてしまった。
I argued back in front of the boss and made him lose face.
メンツが足たりないto not have enough people (for mahjong)
今日きょうはメンツが足たりなくて麻雀まーじゃんができない。
We don't have enough players today, so we can't play mahjong.
メンツにこだわるto be overly concerned about one's reputation
彼かれはいつもメンツにこだわって、素す直なおに謝あやまれない。
He's always so worried about saving face that he can't apologize honestly.

Expressions

面めん子つが揃そろうto make a foursome (mahjong) · to have everyone together; to have the full lineup
面めん子つが立たつkeep face; save face; not lose face
面めん子つを立たてるsave face; preserve someone's honor

Kanji

面mask, face, features
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

Related words· 6

体たい面めん sense 1
体面 is a more formal, written-register word for social standing, while メンツ is the colloquial term used in everyday speech about not losing face.
メンバーN4sense 4
メンバー is the general word for members of a group, while メンツ in this sense is a casual, mahjong-derived term for the people gathered.
面めん目ぼくN1sense 1
面目 appears in set phrases like 面目ない (ashamed) and centers on one's honor before others, whereas メンツ is more casual and focused on standing among peers.
顔かおN5sense 1
顔 is used idiomatically for reputation (as in 顔を立てる, to give face), while メンツ is the more explicit, mahjong-derived word for social face.

Show 2 more

顔かおぶれN1
面子 is a casual, colloquial word for the set of people present (often in a game or social setting), while 顔ぶれ is more neutral and widely used in media or organizational contexts.
見み栄えN1
面子 focuses on one's reputation or standing among others, while 見栄 is about the visible display of status or success itself.

Don't confuse with

メンコ
面子 read めんこ is a children's card-flipping game, a totally different word that happens to share the same kanji as メンツ.

Written forms

メンツUsage58%
Usually written in katakana; the kanji spelling 面子 is also used but less common.
面めん子つUsage42%
Kanji spelling, more formal or literary; can be confused with the Chinese loanword sense of 'face'.

Etymology

Borrowed from Chinese 面子 (miànzi), meaning 'face' or 'reputation'. The mahjong senses derive from the same Chinese term used in the game.