HSK 7
看在X的面子上
kàn zài X de miàn zi shàng
For the sake of X
Explanation
看在X的面子上 (kàn zài X de miànzi shàng) is a fixed colloquial template, meaning 'for X's sake', 'out of regard for X's face', expressing that one does something not so much for the thing itself but out of respect for/to preserve the dignity of person X.
看在 (kàn zài) + X (the person shown regard) + 的面子上 (de miànzi shàng), + (the clause stating what is done for that person's sake). 面子 (miànzi) means 'face, dignity'.
in everyday communication, when explaining that the reason for doing/conceding something is out of deference to a person with a valued relationship or status; X is usually someone we respect, not the speaker himself.
keep the full template 看在……的面子上 (do not say the truncated '看X的面子'); and X is the person shown regard—do not put the very person performing the action in the X position.
Examples
I only agreed out of regard for her.
For the old man's sake, the three guests sat back down again.
Practice
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Learn “看在X的面子上” effectively
The grammar point “看在X的面子上” (For the sake of X) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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