面
miàn · noodles / face💡 How to pronounce
m → like the 'm' in 'moon'. iàn → like 'yen' with a falling tone.
📖 The Story
面 originally meant 'face', but came to mean 'noodles' — because noodles look like thin faces. The character shows a face (面) inside a frame, representing the surface or appearance of something.
🎬 In Culture Today
Noodles are a symbol of longevity in Chinese culture — they are served at birthdays and celebrations. Hand-pulled noodles (拉面) are a culinary art form.
📚 Words
吃面to eat noodles
面条noodles
面粉flour
📝 Example Sentences
我喜欢吃面条。
I like eating noodles.
拉面很好吃。
Hand-pulled noodles are delicious.