📂 Business Speak

One face good one face bad (当面一套背后一套) — Chinglish Slang

📌 Quick Overview | 词条速览

Slang Name:One face good one face bad

Chinese:当面一套背后一套

Type:Business Speak / Chinglish Slang

🔎 Full Meaning | 完整释义

English:
A Chinese business criticism: "one face in front, another face behind." It describes someone who acts friendly to your face but does harmful things behind your back. In Chinese offices, this is considered one of the worst character flaws — being duplicitous or two-faced in the workplace.

中文:
一个中国式商业批评:"当面一套,背后一套。"形容那些当面友好、背后使坏的人。在中国办公室里,这被认为是最糟糕的性格缺陷之一——在职场中表里不一、两面三刀。

📜 Origin & Background | 词源与文化背景

This phrase "当面一套背后一套" (dāng miàn yī tào bèi hòu yī tào) is a common Chinese criticism of people who are not genuine. It literally means "one set in front of the face, another set behind the back." In business contexts, it's used to warn about colleagues or partners who smile at you in meetings but undermine you elsewhere. The Chinglish version preserves the vivid imagery of having two different "faces" for different situations.

中文:"当面一套背后一套"是一个常见的中文批评,形容不真诚的人。字面意思是"面前一套,背后一套"。在商务语境中,用来提醒注意那些在会上对你笑但在别处使绊子的同事或合作伙伴。中式英语版保留了不同场合有两张不同"面孔"的生动画面。

📖 Example Sentences | 双语实用例句

📌 Example 1
Office warning:
"Watch out for Lisa. She smiles at you but talks behind your back."
"One face good one face bad. I knew she was like that."

办公室提醒:
"小心Lisa。她对你是笑脸,但背后说你坏话。"
"当面一套背后一套。我就知道她是这样的人。"
📌 Example 2
After a meeting:
"He agreed with everything I said in the meeting."
"Then went to the boss and said the opposite."
"Classic one face good one face bad behavior."

会议后:
"他在会上同意我说的所有话。"
"然后去找老板说了相反的话。"
"经典的当面一套背后一套。"
📌 Example 3
Advice to a junior colleague:
"I don't know who to trust in this office."
"Figure out who is one face good one face bad. Avoid them."

给初级同事的建议:
"我不知道这个办公室里该相信谁。"
"找出那些当面一套背后一套的人。远离他们。"
📌 Example 4
About a business partner:
"They promised us exclusive rights, now they're selling to our competitor."
"One face good, one face bad. We can't trust them anymore."

关于商业伙伴:
"他们承诺给我们独家权利,现在却卖给了我们的竞争对手。"
"当面一套背后一套。我们不能再信任他们了。"
📌 Example 5
Caption on a work drama post:
"She acts like my best friend at the office party."
"Then spread rumors about me the next day."
"One face good one face bad energy."

职场狗血帖配文:
"她在公司派对上表现得像我最好的朋友。"
"第二天就散布关于我的谣言。"
"当面一套背后一套即视感。"

🔗 Related Chinglish Slang

✍️ By Chinglish Lab Team · 📅 May 5, 2026
#Chinglish #BusinessSpeak #ChineseEnglish

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