Difference between revisions of "Mianzi (China)"

Because ''mianzi'' can be maneuvered to a certain degree, variations exist to the extent to which a person’s ''mianzi'' is ‘valid’ (实) or ‘hollow’ (虚). If a person is wealthy or possesses a certain ability commensurate with one’s reputation, we can consider the person’s ''mianzi'' to be ‘valid’. In contrast, if a person produces an image of him or herself through subterfuge or posturing, then that person’s ''mianzi'' is hollow. According to this understanding, exaggerating a particular ''guanxi'' with a powerful figure is a specific strategy for establishing ‘hollow ''mianzi''’. However, the distinction between ‘valid ''mianzi''’ and ‘hollow ''mianzi''’ is not absolute; for example, a businessman gaining hollow mianzi mainly through exaggerating his ''guanxi'' with a powerful official may still have more advantage in a competitive bidding, thus turn the hollow ''mianzi'' into a valid one.  

Because ''mianzi'' can be maneuvered to a certain degree, variations exist to the extent to which a person’s ''mianzi'' is ‘valid’ (实) or ‘hollow’ (虚). If a person is wealthy or possesses a certain ability commensurate with one’s reputation, we can consider the person’s ''mianzi'' to be ‘valid’. In contrast, if a person produces an image of him or herself through subterfuge or posturing, then that person’s ''mianzi'' is hollow. According to this understanding, exaggerating a particular ''guanxi'' with a powerful figure is a specific strategy for establishing ‘hollow ''mianzi''’. However, the distinction between ‘valid ''mianzi''’ and ‘hollow ''mianzi''’ is not absolute; for example, a businessman gaining hollow mianzi mainly through exaggerating his ''guanxi'' with a powerful official may still have more advantage in a competitive bidding, thus turn the hollow ''mianzi'' into a valid one.  

Many Chinese people are concerned about protecting the ''mianzi'' of others, especially those of higher social status. Hurting someone’s ''mianzi'' may cause embarrassment or even anger to that person and could damage their interpersonal ''guanxi'' (Kipnis 1995). Common strategies to save other’s ''mianzi'' include avoiding public criticism preferring more euphemistic, general, and vague comments; avoiding outright refusal of requests and, instead, making a perfunctory effort even when the request cannot be really fulfilled; avoiding public confrontation with elders and superiors and, instead, behaving as submissively as possible (Hu 1944; Hwang 1987).

Many Chinese people are concerned about protecting the ''mianzi'' of others, especially those of higher social status. Hurting someone’s ''mianzi'' may cause embarrassment or even anger to that person and could damage their interpersonal ''guanxi'' (Kipnis 1995). Common strategies to save other’s ''mianzi'' include avoiding public criticism preferring more euphemistic, general, and vague comments; avoiding outright refusal of requests and, instead, making a perfunctory effort even when the request cannot be really fulfilled; avoiding public confrontation with elders and superiors and, instead, behaving as submissively as possible (Hu 1944; Hwang 1987).