看在…的面子上: Appealing to a Relationship in Chinese
看在X的面子上
看在X的面子上 asks someone to act, forgive, or compromise out of regard for a person or relationship. X belongs inside the fixed frame, followed by a complete request or concession. The localizer sequence cannot be rearranged, the relational noun cannot be omitted, and the expression does not provide a factual cause.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
看在 + Person / Relationship + 的面子上，+ Request or concession
Read the structure
看在X的面子上 asks someone to act, forgive, or compromise out of regard for a person or relationship. X belongs inside the fixed frame, followed by a complete request or concession. The localizer sequence cannot be rearranged, the relational noun cannot be omitted, and the expression does not provide a factual cause. Keep the model 看在 + Person / Relationship + 的面子上，+ Request or concession visible while you compare each sentence.
请看在孩子的面子上，原谅他这一次。
For the child's sake, please forgive him this once.
Choose the right context
Ask for leniency out of regard for a third person. Frame a face-sensitive request or compromise. Invoke an established relationship before the requested action.
看在多年朋友的面子上，我答应帮忙。
Out of regard for our long friendship, I agreed to help.
Respect the boundary
Do not omit 面子 from the frame. Do not rearrange 看在 and 的面子上. Do not use it as a neutral factual reason.
请看的面子在孩子上，原谅他。
(Please regard face at the child on, forgive him.)
Repair the pattern
The fixed frame is rearranged: The fixed order is 看在 + X + 的面子上. The relational noun 面子 is omitted: 面子 is required inside the fixed relational frame.
请看在孩子的面子上，原谅他。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
请看在孩子的面子上，原谅他这一次。
For the child's sake, please forgive him this once.
请看
看在
This part occupies the 看在 position in the model pattern.
在
Person / Relationship
This part occupies the Person / Relationship position in the model pattern.
孩子
的面子上，
This part occupies the 的面子上， position in the model pattern.
的
Request or concession
This part occupies the Request or concession position in the model pattern.
面子
看在
This part occupies the 看在 position in the model pattern.
上
Person / Relationship
This part occupies the Person / Relationship position in the model pattern.
，
的面子上，
This part occupies the 的面子上， position in the model pattern.
原谅
Request or concession
This part occupies the Request or concession position in the model pattern.
他
看在
This part occupies the 看在 position in the model pattern.
这
Person / Relationship
This part occupies the Person / Relationship position in the model pattern.
一次
的面子上，
This part occupies the 的面子上， position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
请看在孩子的面子上，原谅他这一次。
For the child's sake, please forgive him this once.
看在多年朋友的面子上，我答应帮忙。
Out of regard for our long friendship, I agreed to help.
看在老师的面子上，双方各退一步。
For the teacher's sake, both sides should compromise.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Ask for leniency out of regard for a third person.
- Frame a face-sensitive request or compromise.
- Invoke an established relationship before the requested action.
Do not use it when
- Do not omit 面子 from the frame.
- Do not rearrange 看在 and 的面子上.
- Do not use it as a neutral factual reason.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
请看的面子在孩子上，原谅他。
请看在孩子的面子上，原谅他。
The fixed frame is rearranged
The fixed order is 看在 + X + 的面子上.
看在老师的上，双方各退一步。
看在老师的面子上，双方各退一步。
The relational noun 面子 is omitted
面子 is required inside the fixed relational frame.
请看的面子在孩子上，原谅他。
The fixed order is 看在 + X + 的面子上.
看在老师的上，双方各退一步。
面子 is required inside the fixed relational frame.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 看在X的面子上.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 看在X的面子上. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
看在…的面子上: Appealing to a Relationship Questions
What does 面子 mean here?
It refers to social regard or the relationship invoked to motivate leniency or cooperation.
Can the speaker name themselves as X?
Yes, 看在我的面子上 is possible, though it makes a direct personal appeal.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, combined Levels 7–9 item 【七—九139】, 口语格式：看在X的面子上 (printed p. 252)
Supports placement in the official combined Levels 7-9 band; the exact site level remains an internal difficulty label; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 62, §62.2.3, face-saving strategies in requests; Chapter 57, topic frames
Supports invoking social relationship and face before a request, concession, or mitigating action.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
基于基于: Based on a Stated Basis
Compare this lesson with 基于 introducing the basis for a judgment or action; both belong to grounds, evidence, opportunity, and interpersonal basis, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
据据: According to Evidence
Compare this lesson with 据 introducing the evidence or source for a statement; both belong to grounds, evidence, opportunity, and interpersonal basis, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
趁趁: While the Opportunity Lasts
Compare this lesson with 趁 introducing a favorable time or circumstance; both belong to grounds, evidence, opportunity, and interpersonal basis, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Continue learning
请请 in Polite Commands
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.