✔ 最佳答案
據《Online Etymology Dictionsary》:
face (n.)
c.1290, from O.Fr. face, from V.L. *facia, from L. facies "appearance, form, figure," and secondarily "visage, countenance;" probably related to facere "to make" (see factitious). Replaced O.E. andwlita. To face (v.) "confront" is first recorded 1465. To lose face (or save face), 1876, is said to be from Chinese tu lien; to face the music is theatrical. Face-lift (n.) first recorded 1934, from face-lifting (1922).
Ref:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=face&searchmode=none
藉悉,英文「lose face」源自漢語的「丟臉」,文中的「tu lien」就是北方話「丟臉」的譯音。再看漢語「丟臉」和「面子」的詞源:
脸
(1) (形声。从肉,佥( qiān)声。古代表示人的整个面部用“面”。“脸”字在魏晋时期才出现,只表示两颊的上部,到了唐宋时期,口语中才用“脸”表示整个面部。本义:两颊的上部)
據於《漢典》
http://www.zdic.net/zd/zi/ZdicE8Zdic84ZdicB8.htm
「臉」「面」意思相若,「丟臉」即是丟去面子,而「面」一詞從古至今都是個人尊嚴的象徵。
「無顏見江東父老」的典故出於《史記.項羽本紀》:「且籍與江東子弟八千人渡江而西,今無一人還,縱江東父兄憐而王我,我何面目見之?」
又見《周禮.夏官司馬》:「橝人, 掌誦王志,道國之政事,以巡天下邦國而語之,使萬民和說而正王面。 」
當中的「面」正是我們常說的「face」了。
2007-08-18 00:23:23 補充:
打錯字典名,應是:《Online Etymology Dictionary》