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面目次第 (menbokushidai) Japanese meaning: face | Kotomora

面めん目ぼく次し第だい

め

ん

ぼ

く

し

だ

い

Meanings

1

face; honour; reputation; dignity

polite (teineigo)›

Polite noun referring to one's social standing, honour, or dignity. Often used in the set phrase 面目次第もない (to be deeply ashamed or to lose face).

See also: 面目次第もない

こんな失しっ敗ぱいをしては面めん目ぼく次し第だいもない。

I am utterly ashamed of such a failure.

面めん目ぼく次し第だいを保たもつために全ぜん力りょくを尽つくした。

I did my utmost to preserve my honour.

Expressions

面めん目ぼく次し第だいもないtruly ashamed; deeply embarrassed; having no excuse

Kanji

面mask, face, features
目eye, class, look
次next, order, sequence
第No., residence

Related words

面めん目ぼく
面目 is the more common and neutral word for 'face' or 'honour'. 面目次第 is a polite, somewhat formal variant often used in fixed expressions.
体たい面めん
体面 also means 'face' or 'appearance', but focuses more on outward social appearance rather than inner honour.

Built from

面めん目ぼく+次し第だい

Etymology

Compound of 面目 (めんぼく, 'face, honour') and 次第 (しだい, 'depending on, order'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the phrase 面目次第もない is a fixed polite expression.