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面目を潰す (めんぼくをつぶす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-su)
lose face ; be disgraced
Used when someone's honor, reputation, or dignity is damaged, often through failure or humiliation. The expression emphasizes the destruction of one's social standing.
会かい
社しゃ
の
面めん
目ぼく
を
潰つぶ
す
こと
に
なる
。
If you do that, it will bring disgrace to the company.
Similar words 面めん 目ぼく を 失うしな う Similar meaning, but 失う (to lose) is a more general verb; 潰す (to crush) carries a stronger nuance of destroying one's reputation.
顔かお を 潰つぶ す Also means 'to lose face,' but uses 顔 (face) directly and is slightly more colloquial.
Etymology Compound of 面目 (めんぼく, 'face, honor, reputation') + を (object marker) + 潰す (つぶす, 'to crush, destroy'). The expression literally means 'to crush one's face/reputation.'
