# 面面相觑

miàn miàn xiāng qù

Look at one another in confusion or dismay

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Faces look at each other

**Traditional Chinese:** 面面相覷

**Register:** Descriptive · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe a group unable to respond.

Usually uncertainty, not ordinary eye contact.

## Understanding the expression

People turn toward one another hoping someone else knows what to say or do. Each finds the same uncertainty reflected back. Modern use describes a shared reaction to surprising news, an awkward question, or an unexpected problem. It often creates a brief silent scene in storytelling. The phrase does not mean a group has no ability at all; it captures the moment before information, a suggestion, or someone taking the initiative breaks the hesitation.

## Examples

听完通知，大家面面相觑。

### Traditional Chinese

聽完通知，大家面面相覷。

tīng wán tōng zhī ， dà jiā miàn miàn xiāng qù 。

After the announcement, everyone looked at one another in dismay.

门打不开，我们面面相觑。

### Traditional Chinese

門打不開，我們面面相覷。

mén dǎ bù kāi ， wǒ men miàn miàn xiāng qù 。

When the door would not open, we exchanged puzzled looks.

老师突然提问，学生面面相觑。

### Traditional Chinese

老師突然提問，學生面面相覷。

lǎo shī tū rán tí wèn ， xué shēng miàn miàn xiāng qù 。

The sudden question left students looking at each other.

账目对不上，两人面面相觑。

### Traditional Chinese

賬目對不上，兩人面面相覷。

zhàng mù duì bú shàng ， liǎng rén miàn miàn xiāng qù 。

The mismatched accounts left the two exchanging bewildered looks.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%9D%A2%E9%9D%A2%E7%9B%B8%E8%A6%B7)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=334&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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- [冥顽不灵 míng wán bù líng Remain obstinately unreceptive ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-wan-bu-ling)

- [莫逆之交 mò nì zhī jiāo A deeply compatible friendship ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mo-ni-zhi-jiao)

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